MARYLAND. 



445 



active portion of the secessionists of the State. 

 Speaking of this state of affairs at a subsequent 

 day, the Governor said : 



" I knew it was time for me to act. True, 

 I might then have called upon the President of 

 the United States to quell the insurrection, hut 

 this would almost certainly have caused the 

 destruction of the city of Baltimore. I might 

 have called out the militia to endeavor to re- 

 store quiet ; and, indeed, I did make an effort 

 to that end. But I discovered that nearly all 

 the officers were in league with the conspira- 

 tors, and the volunteer corps of the city and 

 vicinity which possessed arms were almost en- 

 tirely iu the same category. It is true, there 

 was a considerable loyal military force in Balti- 

 more, but it was undisciplined, and entirely 

 unarmed. So that if I had effectively called 

 out the militia at that time, I should have actu- 

 ally assisted the conspirators in their designs. 

 I concluded, therefore, after anxious delibera- 

 tion, that there was but one course left to me. 

 I summoned the Legislature to assemble at 

 Frederick City, in the midst of a loyal popula- 

 tion, on the 26th day of April, believing that 

 even the few days thus gained would be in- 

 valuable." 



An election was immediately held in the city 

 of Baltimore for members of this Legislature. 

 Only one ticket was nominated. This received 

 about 9,200 votes. The vote of the city at the 

 Presidential election was 30,150. 



On the 26th this body assembled at Freder- 

 ick. The Governor, in his Message, briefly de- 

 scribed the recent events which had taken place 

 in the State, and his own action in connection 

 with them. He said : 



Believing it to be the design of the Administration 

 to pass over our soil troops for the defence of the City 

 of Washington, and fearing that the passage of such 

 troops would excite our people and provoke a collision, 

 I labored earnestly to induce the President to forego 

 his purpose. I waited upon him in person, and urged 

 the importance of my request. I subsequently com- 

 municated with him" and his Cabinet by special de- 

 spatches, intreating an abandonment of bis designs. 

 To all my requests I could get but the reply that 

 Washington was threatened with attack ; that the 

 Government had resolved to defend it; that there was 

 no other way of obtaining troops than by passing them 

 over the soil of Maryland, and that the military neces- 

 sity of the case rendered it impossible for the Govern- 

 ment to abandon its plans, much as it desired to avoid 

 the dangers of a collision. My correspondence with 

 the authorities at Washington is therewith submitted. 

 The consequences are known to you. On Friday last 

 a detachment of troops from Massachusetts reached 

 Baltimore, and was attacked by an irresponsible mob, 

 and several persons on both sides were killed. The 

 Mayor and Police Board gave to the Massachusetts 

 soldiers all the protection they could afford, acting 

 with the utmost promptness and bravery. But they 

 were powerless to restrain the mob. Being in Balti- 

 m6re at the time, I cooperated with the Mayor to the 

 fullest extent of my power in his efforts. The military 

 of the city were ordered out to assist in the preserva- 

 tion of the peace. The railroad companies were re- 

 quested by the Mayor and myself to transport no more 

 troops to Baltimore City, and they promptly acceded 

 to our request. Hearing of the attack upon the sol- 

 diers, the War Department issued orders that no more 

 troops would pass through Baltimore City, provided 



they were allowed to pass outside its limits. Subse- 

 quently a detachment of troops were ascertained to be 

 encamped at or near Cockeysville, in Baltimore County. 

 On being informed of this.'the War Department order- 

 ed them back. Before leaving Baltimore, Colonel Hu- 

 per, who was in command of the United States arsenal 

 at Pikesville, informed me that be had resigned his 

 commission. Being advised of the probability that 

 the mob might attempt the destruction of this property, 

 and thereby complicate our difficulties with the author- 

 ities at Washington, I ordered Colonel Petherbridge 

 to proceed with sufficient force and occupv the prem- 

 ises in the name of the United States Government, of 

 which proceeding I immediately notified the War De- 

 partment. On Sunday morning last I discovered that 

 a detachment of troops, under command of Brigadier- 

 General Benjamin F. Butler, had reached Annapolis in 

 a steamer, and taken possession of the practice-ship 

 Constitution, which during that day they succeeded in 

 getting outside of the harbor of Annapolis, where she 

 now lies. After getting the ship off, the steamer laid 

 outside the harbor, and was soon joined by another 

 steamer having on board the Seventh regiment, from 

 New York City. Brigadier-General Butler addressed 

 me, asking for permission to land his forces. It will 

 be seen from the correspondence herewith submitted, 

 that I refused my consent. The Mayor of Annapolis 

 also protested. But both steamers soon afterwards 

 landed and put off with the troops. Subsequently 

 other large bodies of troops reached here in transports, 

 and were landed. I was notified that the troops were 

 to be marched to Washington. They desired to go 

 without obstruction from our people, but they had or- 

 ders to go to Washington, and were determined to 

 obey those orders. In furtherance of their designs 

 they took military possession of the Annapolis and Elk 

 Ridge Railroad, in regard to which act I forwarded to 

 Brigadier-General Butler the protest, and see the reply 

 herewith submitted. On Wednesday morning the two 

 detachments landed, and took up the line of march for 

 Washington. The people of Annapolis, though greatly 

 exasperated, acting under counsel of the most prudent 

 citizens, refrained from molesting or obstructing the 

 passage of the troops through the city. Seriously im- 

 pressed with the condition of affairs, and anxious to 

 avoid a repetition of events similar to those which had 

 transpired in Baltimore, I deemed it my duty, to make 

 another appeal at Washington. Accordingly, I sent a 

 special messenger to Washington, with a despatch to 

 the Administration, advising that no more troops be 

 sent through Maryland ; that the troops at Annapolis 

 be sent elsewhere, and urging that a truce be oflered 

 with a view of a peaceful settlement of existing diffi- 

 culties by meditation. I suggested that Lord Lyons, 

 the British Minister, be requested to act as mediator 

 between the contending parties. These events have 

 satisfied me that the A\ ar Department has concluded 

 to make Annapolis the point for landing troops, and 

 has resolved to open and maintain communication be- 

 tween this place and Washington. In the brief time 

 allowed, it is impossible for me to go more into detail. 

 I shall promptly communicate such other information 

 as may reach me. 



Notwithstanding the fact that our most learned and 

 intelligent citizens admit the right of the Government 

 to transport its troops across our soil, it is evident that 

 a portion of the people of Maryland are opposed to the 

 exercise of that right. I have done all in my power to 

 protect the citizens of Maryland, and to preserve peace 

 within our borders. Lawless occurrences will be re- 

 peated, I fear, unless prompt action be taken by you. 

 It is my duty to advise you of my own convictions of 

 the proper course to be pursued by Maryland in the 

 emergency which is upon us. It is of no consequence 

 now to discuss the causes which have induced our 

 troubles. Let us look to our distressing present and 

 to our portentous future. The fate of Maryland, and 

 perhaps of her sister border slave States, will undoubt- 

 edly be seriously affected by the action of your honor- 

 able body. Therefore should every good citizen bend 

 all his energies to the task before us, and therefore 



