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ney General, who deemed it unnecessary to report the facts as
requested, owing to the investigation then going forward, on
the part of others, who were duly authorized to act. I am
informed by the State's Attorney of Anne Arundel County
that, although a thorough investigation was subsequently
had before the Grand Jury of the County, with the lights of
the previous investigation, no indictment could be found,
owing to the conflicting character of the testimony, and the
impossibility of fixing the responsibility upon any one con-
nected with the riot—the weight of opinion being, that both
whites and negroes were alike implicated. The Report of
the Grand Jury is herewith submitted. Certain it is that no
countenance was given, to the conduct of those who were en-
gaged in the riot, by any respectable citizen or class of citi-
zens in this community; and that tho outrage was generally
rebuked by the judgment of the whole State.

From what I believe oi the State of Maryland, and
the views of her people upon the subject of the negro
race, I will only say, that I have felt encouraged by the- gen-
eral harmony which prevails between tho races, and the total
absence at this time of any serious disagreement, growing
out of the recognized standard of wages or any other exciting
cause.

The recent discussion in the House of Representatives, in
reference to the political disabilities imposed by our laws upon
the colored race, can hardly be recognized as dealing fairly
with the subject, to which reference was made, with so much
unnecessary bitterness. There is no disposition in this State,
so far as I am informed, to interfere with the civil rights of
the negro, and all laws in conflict with them I sincerely hope
will receive your prompt attention. In relatian to that fea-
ture of your Code, relating to the colored population, adopted
years ago, giving to the courts tho power to commute crim-
inal sentences, by selling the offender into slavery fot the
period of his sentence, in lieu of imprisonment at hard labor
in the penitentiary, I would commend it to your notice, not
in the interest of the colored race, to whom it is a benefit,
but as making an unfair discrimination, under the new order
of things, against the white man, from whom the same priv-
ilege is withheld. I trust that its repeal will be promptly
ordered. The particular occurrence furnishing the ground
of complaint in the Congressional debate must be received in
connection, with the attendant circumstances. The sentence
of the prisoner, it will be found, was commuted simply as in
act of humanity; and in other trials of a similar character,
this has been done at the special request of friends and coun-
sel, and not in a spirit of oppression, as will appear by the
letter of the State's Attorney herewith submitted.