144 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [May 13,

rages committed upon their property by the troops of Vir-
ginia now stationed at or near Harper's Ferry, and also by
irresponsible bodies of citizens of your commonwealth. Cat-
tle grain &c., have been seized ; canal boats laden with pro-
duce have been detained; private houses have been forcibly
entered, and unoffending citizens have been insulted and
threatened.

I am confident that these outrages have been committed
without orders from you. But your Excellency will readily
perceive that they are liable to provoke hostilities between
your people and those who suffer from such unlawful acts.
Such collision will be as much deplored by your Excellency
as by me ; and I am sure you will readily consent to do all
in your power to avert it.

Believing that it is the desire of the people of Maryland,
even those who have suffered from these depredations, to pre-
serve amicable relations with Virginia, I do most earnestly
advise that you wars the perpetrators of the outrages com-
plained of that their acts are unlawful, and that you take
immediate steps to prevent a recurrence thereof.

Yery respectfully, your obd't ser't,

THOS. H. HICKS.

Executive Department,
Richmond, Va., May 3, 1861.

His Excellency, Thomas H. Hicks, Governor of Maryland:
Sir:—Your letter from Frederick city, of May 1st, was re-
ceived this morning. It will be communicated immediately
to Col. Jackson, commanding Harper's Ferry, with instruc-
tions to inquiie into facts, and make report to me.

I desire to cultivate amicable relations with the people of
Maryland, and with this view will give instructions to Col.
Jackson to restrain those under his command from all acts of
violence and lawlessness.

So soon as I receive a report from that officer, I will com-
municate further with you.

Very respectfully your obd't serv't,

JOHN LETCHER."

Pending the promise contained in the letter of the Govern-
or of Virginia, the Committee think it would not only be
disrespectful to him, but unbecoming, so far as Maryland is
concerned, to do otherwise than await his further communi-
nications.