142 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [May 13,

There are other considerations which the committee might
adduce in support of their conclusion, but they deem it un-
necessary to enlarge on the subject. They respectfully ask
leave to report unfavorably upon the Joint Resolution referred
to them.

S. T. WALLIS,
J. H. GORDON,
G. W. GOLDSBOROUGH,
JAS. T. BRISCOE.
13th May, 1861.

Which was read and adopted ;
Also, the following report:

To the Honorable,

the Speaker of the House of Delegates :

The committee on Federal Relations, to whom was referred
the Message of His Excellency the Governor, bearing date
the 10th inst., ask leave respectfully to report;

That they see nothing whatever in the communication of
the President of the Western Maryland Railroad Company,
requiring the interposition of either the Legislature or the
Executive. It presents the case of an illegal and violent act,
committed by seventy or eighty disorderly persons, alleged to
have been on their way out of the State, at the time. Such
an occurrence might readily take the Railroad Company and
the local authorities by surprise, for once, but there is no rea-
son why with ordinary precaution, it should be permitted to
happen a second time. The existing laws are ample for the
protection of private property against any such violation as is
complained of, and the letter suggests no unwillingness or
inability on the part of the Sheriff or other local conservators
of the peace, to discharge their obvious duty in the premises.
The committee therefore recommend that the matter be left
to the cognizance of the proper authorities of the county, and
ask leave to be discharged from further consideration of the
subject.

The remaining portions of the Message have reference to,
1st. A petition from certain citizens of Montgomery county
who ask protection in the transmission of their grain by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal ; and 2d. A letter from Mr. A.
A. Biggs, of Sharpsburg, complaining of the seizure of a po-
bition, on the Maryland side of the Potomac at Harper's
Ferry, by a detachment of Virginia troops, who, he alleges,
were destroying a large quantity of timber by fire. The let-