Hon. HENRY MAY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 16, 1861. SIR: Inclosed you will find a copy of a resolution* referred to the Judiciary Committee by the House of Representatives, and which I am instructed to transmit to you. It will be the pleasure of the committee to take up the resolution for consideration as soon as the state of your health may allow. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours, JNO. A. BINGHAM, Acting Chairman of Judiciary Committee. [Inclosure.] Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be directed to inquire whether Hon. Henry May, a Representative in Congress from the Fourth district of the State of Maryland, has not been found holding criminal intercourse and correspondence with persons in armed rebellion against the Government of the United States and to make report to the House as to what action should be taken in the premises; and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers and to examine witnesses on oath or affirmation; and that said Hon. Henry May be notified of the passage of this resolution if practicable before action thereupon by the committee. Extract from proceedings of the U. S. House of Representatives July 18, 1861.t Mr. HICKMAN. I am directed by the Committee on the Judiciary to make the following report: The Committee on the Judiciary to whom was referred the resolution of the House of July 15, 1861, directing them to inquire whether the Hon. Henry May, a Representative in Congress from the Fourth district of Maryland, has not been found holding criminal intercourse and correspondence with persons in armed rebellion against the Government of the United States, reports: That the gentleman moving the resolution of inquiry was called before the committee but declared himself ignorant of and unable to produce any evidence tending to prove any of the matters referred to in the resolution, but that they were grounded upon newspaper articles only. The committee having nothing before them to implicate Mr. May in holding criminal intercourse and correspondence with persons in armed rebellion against the Government therefore recommend no action in the case as necessary on the part of the House. The committee further report that the investigation before them entirely relieves the President of the United States and LieutenantGeneral Scott of any suspicion of a correspondence or attempted correspondence through Mr. May. *The resolution was adopted by the House July 15, 1861. For the full proceedings of the House on July 18, 1861, concerning the charges against May, the attack by a Baltimore mob on the Federal troops, and Chief of Police Kane's connection therewith, see Congressional Globe for July 20, 1861, p. 193 et seq. Mr. THOMAS, of Maryland. I ask my colleague [Mr. May] to let the Clerk read the residue of that newspaper article. [Cries of "That is right."] The Clerk read the article [from The Baltimore Sun] as follows: HENRY MAY'S MISSION INTO DIXIE.—WHAT HE IS TELLING THE CONFEDERATES. The following interesting and important account of affairs in Baltimore is from a letter written at Richmond on the 4th of July, published in The Charleston Courier: "The principal bubble upon the wave of Richmond life to-day or rather yesterday was the arrival of Hon. Henry May, of Baltimore, the successful competitor in the recent contest for Member of Congress there against Henry Winter Davis, the Black Republican candidate. The object of his visit has not transpired, but it is loudly whispered that it looks toward certain events in Maryland which may have an influence in determining the continuance of the war. The intelligence he brings from there is gloomy enough to make an American weep. "According to his statements Baltimore is as effectually under the heel of the tyrant as if the head of every man was in iron fetters. Federal troops are encamped in its squares and patrol its streets, cannon are planted at corners, citizens are arrested for even breathing secession, women are insulted with impunity, outrages are perpetrated that make humanity blush, and in a word a reign of terror has been inaugurated which if not as cruel in results is as bad in principle as that of Robespierre when he enshrined a harlot as a goddess of liberty and bade the people fall down and worship. The "While this is the sad side of the picture there are other features about it which inspire the strongest hopes that the day of retaliation is not far distant. Thirty thousand men are said to be under arms waiting concerted action. Silently and stealthily they have been preparing for the event which they know must come. mercenaries have sought to deprive them of their weapons but where one has been made a prize a hundred have taken its place. I learn this fact from a well-informed Baltimorean now in Richmond and from another source I have ascertained that not less than 8,000 muskets are at this moment concealed and vigilantly guarded night and day. "I think I telegraphed to you that in the Eighth ward-an Irish district by the way-a Confederate flag was flying over a house in which loaded swivels were mounted at the windows and that the inmates would die before they would allow the flag to be struck. "My informant believes that a battle there is imminent. Affrays between the citizens and soldiers take place frequently. Already several on both sides have been killed and wounded. Should a fight result we shall hear of scenes that only find a parallel in the bloody records of the French Revolution when the people fought and conquered the trained soldiers of their king behind barricades. The blow may be precipitated in less than a week. Everything depends upon the success and movements of General Johnston. If he has orders from the President to march into Maryland and toward Baltimore the game commences at once. Lincoln will find himself encompassed by forces in front and rear. Cut off from the North and West Washington will be destroyed and the footsteps of the retreating army though tracked in blood across the soil of Maryland-as they assuredly will be in such an event-may possibly pave the way to an honorable peace. "The movements of Johnston within the last few hours are watched with intense interest. It is known that Cadwalader is on the march toward Virginia and that a small battle had taken place between his advance guard and the forces of Colonel Jackson, but beyond the arrival of forty cavalry taken prisoners and brought to Winchester the details of the affair have not transpired. Colonel Jackson retired to draw the enemy into our line of operations and General Johnston with the entire force under his command advanced. Here the record stops but I hope the telegraph to-day will bring such news of a great battle as will make the 4th of July doubly dear to every Southern heart. "The best of feeling-newspaper croaking to the contrary-prevails everywhere among our troops. They are anxious to be up and at 'em;' are in prime condition physically and patriotically and have only one paramount want in the world-and that is an opportunity to clean the Yankees out and go home to their business.' I observe extensively quoted and commented upon in the Northern papers an extract from a letter published in some Southern journal purporting to come from a private gentleman at Manassas and expressing the conviction that Beauregard is destined to be defeated. "The result has been an evident encouragement to the people of the North; increased enlistment in the array, a proportionate diminution of vim in the Southfor even a shadow will sometimes cause a chill-and worse than all an order from Secretary Walker that we indefatigable newspaper correspondents shall not visit any of the great camps without pledging our honor that we will not divulge the secrets that we may discover; all this train of effects proceeding from a few poorly advised lines written with an incautious pen by one who must be neither a good soldier nor a good judge." HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. SIR: I have the honor to inclose a letter to General Dix which, if it meets your approval, I would be glad to have you sign and allow me to send it to General Dix by Allen. From the best information I can obtain it would seem necessary to arrest at once the parties named. I have indicated Fort Monroe as their first destination in order to get them away from Baltimore as quietly as possible, and would suggest that they ultimately be sent North. Very respectfully, yours, GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, P. S.-I am informed that the legislature meets the 14th. [Inclosure.] WAR DEPARTMENT, September 11, 1861. Maj. Gen. JOHN A. DIX, U. S. Army, Baltimore, Md. GENERAL: You are directed to arrest forthwith the following-named persons, viz: T. Parkin Scott, S. Teackle Wallis, Henry M. Warfield, F. Key Howard, Thomas W. Hall, jr., and Henry May, and to keep them in close custody, suffering no one to communicate with them, and to convey them at once to Fortress Monroe there to remain in close custody until they shall be forwarded to their ultimate destination. You will also seize their papers and cause them to be carefully examined. The exigencies of the Government demand a prompt and successful execution of this order. You will please report your proceedings at once to this Department. Mr. E. J. Allen is sent to take the immediate charge of the arrests and examination of papers under your general control, and you will please furnish him the necessary military force. I am, sir, very, &c., SIMON CAMERON, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. SIR: Your letter was handed to me half an hour ago by Mr. Allen, who is of the opinion that in consideration of the lateness of the hour and the uncertainty of finding all of the parties the arrests should be deferred till to-morrow night. I will detain the steamer so that they can be taken directly on board. No effort or precaution will be spared to carry your order into execution promptly and effectually. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Department of Virginia. GENERAL: Lieut. W. M. Wilson, of the Fourth Cavalry, will leave these headquarters this evening with the following gentlemen who have been taken in custody by order of the Government: * * Henry May, Member of Congress. * The direction of the Secretary of War is to keep them in close custody, suffering no one to communicate with them and to convey them at once to Fort Monroe, there to remain in close custody until they shall be forwarded to their ultimate destination. * * * I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. * SIR: I received yesterday from Major-General Dix a letter accompanying fifteen prisoners arrested in Baltimore. The prisoners Brown, May, Winans and others were landed at this port yesterday afternoon and have been placed in the casemates where they are strongly guarded. * I would suggest that this fortress from its position and the sympathies that surround it is neither so secure nor commodious a place for the safe-keeping of these prisoners as points farther north. * * * * * [Indorsement.] JOHN E. WOOL, I advise that these prisoners be sent to Fort Lafayette or Fort Hamilton as General Scott may designate; that they be allowed to receive no visitors nor to communicate on any other than purely personal or domestic matters by letters to be inspected. W. H. S[EWARD]. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL, U. S. Army, Commanding, &c., Fort Monroe, Va. SIR: The General-in-Chief directs that you send by the first suitable conveyance to Fort Lafayette, N. Y., the political prisoners mentioned in your letter to the Secretary of War of the 15th instant. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Lieut. Col. MARTIN BURKE, U. S. Army, Commanding, &c., Fort Hamilton, N. Y. SIR: The General-in-Chief directs me to say that orders have been sent to Major-General Wool to transfer from Fort Monroe by the first * For full text of this letter see Vol. I, this series, p. 596. suitable conveyance Hon. Henry May, Messrs. Winans, Brown and twelve other political prisoners arrested in Baltimore to Fort Lafayette. You will please receive and hold them in custody. They will be allowed to receive no visitors and only to communicate on purely personal or domestic matters by letters to be inspected. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 23, 1861. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. SIR: On the 11th instant in pursuance of the orders of the Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, and Major-General McClellan I went to Baltimore accompanied by a sufficient number of my detective force and Lieut. W. M. Wilson, of the Fourth U. S. Cavalry. On arriving at Baltimore I proceeded to Fort McHenry and delivered to MajorGeneral Dix an order from the War Department for the arrest of * Henry May. The said order mentioned to General Dix that I was directed to conduct the arrests, also to search for and seize the correspondence of the above-named parties. * * On consultation with General Dix it was deemed advisable as it was now about midnight to postpone the attempt to arrest until the following night. * At about midnight [of the 13th] the several divisious moved simultaneously upon the places where we had discovered Scott, Wallis, F. Key Howard, Hall, May and Warfield, and at that time all the above named were arrested within fifteen minutes, their clothing thoroughly searched and immediately thereafter they were forwarded to Fort McHenry in separate carriages. My force made diligent search for all correspondence on the premises of each of the parties, all of which was seized. * * * Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ALLAN PINKERTON. Letters found among May's papers seized by Allan Pinkerton. [No. 1.] BALTIMORE, Friday, May 3, 1861. His Excellency GOVERNOR HICKS, Frederick, Md. SIR: Cherishing a love of constitutional liberty and believing that a firm support of authority is both the duty and safety of the citizen in this unhappy crisis of our country when a vile spirit of radicalism is hurrying us into a state of anarchy I have wished to forget the past and to offer to you as the Chief Magistrate of our State my cordial and firm support as a citizen. Some of your friends who know what are my views have to-day informed me that this offer would not be unacceptable to you, and now that the very foundations upon which our State government and indeed the vital principles of civil liberty rest are threatened by a reckless legislative usurpation, I cannot hesitate to offer you all the aid and support to your authority that I can in any way render. *For names omitted and full text of this report see Vol. I, this series, p. 688. |