1861.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 177

ties thereof, for the protection of the citizens of Maryland
from injury in person and property by any unadvised acts of
the military forces of said State, and to obtain compensation
for any injuries already done, begs leave to report to your
honorable body, that, in the accomplishment of his mission,
he proceeded at once to Richmond, and received from Gover-
nor Letcher the most distinct disavowal of the acts of the
military in molesting our citizens, and seizing and holding
their property, accompanied by expressions of deep regret for
any such acts of lawlessness, and of earnest desire to main-
tain the most harmonious relation with the citizens of our
State. He expressed a readiness to make the most liberal
compensation for any injuries committed. A gentleman was
appointed to return with your commissioner to the border
and institute enquiries as to the nature and extent of any
damages incurred by citizens of Maryland. The undersigned
returned to Maryland, and with the person alluded to, made
a legal investigation of the seizing of the boat of Mr. C. T.
Wenner, which he is happy to state eventuated in the satis-
factory adjustment of the claim of Mr. Wenner, whose receipt
upon this petition to the Executive accompanies this report.

The case of Mr. Wenner was the only one of which the un-
dersigned was apprized at the time, and he believes it is the
only one of the interruption of the navigation of the canal.

On his return to Maryland, the undersigned received from
the Clerk of your honorable body the memorial of certain
citizens of Montgomery county, and the letter of Mr. Biggs,
of Washington county, with instructions to obtain accurate
information in regard to the subjects thereof and report the
same to your honorable body, with the result of any negotia-
tion relating thereto with the authorities of Virginia.

He visited at once Montgomery county, and some of the
signers of the petitions, and ascertained that the apprehen-
sions of molestation from the troops of Virginia were entirely
groundless. He was informed by Mr. Darby, a respectable
citizen, and owner of a large and important mill on Seneca
creek, and near the canal, that the petition had grown out of
the apprehension of his neighbors—the petitioners—of injury
to his mill property, in the continued security and operation
of which they were all interested, arising from the fact of his
supplying the Government at Washington with flour, but that
he was now satisfied their apprehensions had been groundless,
and his trade on the canal and his other branches of busi-
ness, had not been threatened or molested by the troops of
Virginia,