1867.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 251

Bixler,Pitts, Aydelott, Gordy, Nelson, Wilson, Spicer, Gilpin,
McCulley, Bruce, McCulloh, Carmichael, Benton, Poole,
Criswell, Wampler, Gore, Dawson, Horsey, King, Ham-
mond—69.

The Journal of yesterday was read and approved.

The following communication from the Executive was re-
ceived at the hands of his private secretary, Peter Leary,
Esq:

STATE OF MARYLAND,

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

ANNAPOLIS, February 4th, 1867.
To the House of Delegates :

Gentlemen—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
the following order of your Honorable Body, passed on the
18th ultimo:

" Ordered, That his Excellency the Governor be requested
to furnish this House with a copy of all the telegraphic dis-
patches and other correspondence between his Excellency and
the President of the United States, General Grant and Gen-
eral Canby, relative to the late election in this State; and
also all correspondence in his possession relative to the ru-
mored threatened interference of the United States authori-
ties in the case of the Baltimore Police Commissioners, if not,
in his judgment, incompatible with the interests of the
State."

No correspondence of any description has passed between
the President of the United States and myself, in regard to
the late municipal election in Baltimore or the removal of the
Police Commissioners. My communications with the Presi-
dent were directed to the single point as to the power of the
Executive when appealed to by the civil authorities of a
State, in case of an emergency, to furnish military aid in the
execution of the laws. The State of Maryland being at the
time without any military organization, I felt it my duty, in
the then threatening aspect of affairs in the city of Baltimore,
to guard, by proper precautionary measures, against any out-
break likely to compromise the peace of the commonwealth.
Secretary Stanton, Generals Grant and Canby, and the At-
torney-General, were fully cognizant of what passed between
the President and myself upon this point, and I am not
aware that there was any difference of opinion in regard to
the construction of the law in case a proper requisition had
been made. The only telegram between the President and
myself was an inquiry from me, a short time before the elec-
tion, whether any change had taken place since my interview
with him in relation to the matter.

The threatening aspect of affairs in Baltimore made it