38

Maryland of 1862, ch. 106, did not conflict with the Civil
Rights Bill, and asked the Court, as an act of mercy to the
prisoner, to order his sale instead of confinement in the Peni-
tentiary.

The Hon. D. R. Magruder, (Judge Tuck's successor,) im-
posed upon several negroes convicted of felonies during the
late term of our Court, similar sentences," varying from six
months upwards. The considerations, in most of these cases,
pressed upon the Judge, came from the prisoner's Counsel,
who earnestly requested the Judge, as an act of humanity,
to order a sale, instead of confinement in the Penitentiary.
The reasons assigned by his Honor upon several of these oc-
casions were; 1st. The previous good character of the pris-
oner, this being his first offence. 2d. The request of the
prisoner or his Counsel. 3d. The overcrowded condition of
the Penitentiary; and perhaps other reasons which do not
now occur to me.

These sentences were imposed by Judge Magruder, I be-
lieve, and every one who knows the Judge will agree with
me, from motives of pure and disinterested philanthropy, war-
ranted by a manly, fearless and conscientious discharge of
his judicial obligations, and in no spirit of factious opposition
to any law of Congress.

I have the honor to be,

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAS. REVELL.

State's Attorney for Anne Arundel county

STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ANNAPOLIS, MD.

December 22, 1866.

His Excellency, THOMAS SWANN,

Governor of Maryland, Annapolis:

SIR :—In compliance with your request, I herewith send a
copy of the report made by the Grand Jury of this county
concerning the late Camp Meeting riot, &c., accompanying
the same with the remark that every facility was offered both
by the Attorney General and myself to give the matter the
fullest and most searching investigation—that the Grand
Jury (as also the Justices of the Peace before the Grand Jury