standing or force in the community, speak of doing this thing in an unlawful way or by means of a secret organization?

Answer. So far as my recollection goes, I do not now remember any; it is of such daily occurrence in the office for parties to speak about the crisis, that I never pretend to bear in my mind all that is said. I believe this, that if an armed body of military from the north undertakes to pass through Maryland, the citizens in a body will undertake to prevent their passage, that is to say, if they undertake to come on to see the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln. I have heard a great many persons, whose names I do not now remember, publicly advocate that.

Question. Do you mean to say that there is any well-settled purpose to prevent people coming on here to see Mr. Lincoln inaugurated? Answer. No, sir; there is nothing of that kind; it is merely a sentiment-the unanimous feeling, or, I cannot say unanimous, but the sentiment of a large body of the people.

Question. That they will not let people come on here to see the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln?

Answer. That is to come through armed; if they undertake to do that, I firmly believe there will be some collision; but there is no organization that I am aware of to prevent their passage.

Question. Has it not been customary for a great many years for military companies to pass through Maryland to attend an inauguration ?

Answer. I believe so.

Question. What is it so peculiar about this?

Answer. I suppose the extraordinary character of the times.
Question. More excitement now?

Answer. Yes, sir; so far as my own individual opinions are concerned, I do not know that it is proper for me to state them.

Mr. BRANCH thought it was not worth while to go into that matter.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. I asked a question to lead to some explanation of the remark you made; I asked if it had not been usual for military companies to pass through your State to attend the inauguration of Presidents heretofore, and you said it had, and then I asked what there was peculiar about this.

Answer. And I answered the question, and I intended to go on and explain.

Question. Any explanation of your answer you can make.

Answer. As we are all aware, the south is somewhat aggrieved at the present time; I believe firmly, honestly, that this matter could be reconciled and peaceably settled by compromises from the north. If they are made, Maryland will be found true and loyal to the Union. I am a Union loving man, and voted for the regular democratic nominee, Stephen A. Douglas. But if these concessions are not made, and that, too, shortly, Maryland will unfortunately be thrown with her sister southern States. I deprecate anything of the kind, but it now rests solely and simply with the north to give the south her constitutional rights.

Mr. REYNOLDS. I do not think it is worth while to take this all down. We hear enough of this every day in the House. We can make no compromise here.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. Have you any knowledge of the existence of an organization called the Knights of the Golden Cross, or the Golden Circle, the "K. G. C.," or something of that kind?

Answer. I have not, of late years.

Question. You have no personal knowledge of them?
Answer. I never knew of such an organization.

Question. You do not know where it exists, if it exists at all? Answer. No, sir. I am afraid that information has been given to the committee by a certain class of citizens in Baltimore who undertake to sustain Governor Hicks. The people in my State emphatically condemn him. I am pretty confident that if there was such an organization I would have heard of it.

Question. You perhaps misunderstood me. I do not know that I ever heard distinctly that any such organization existed in Maryland. I do not know anything about it. The newspapers have represented, for two or three years, that there was such an organization existing in some of the States.

Answer. No, sir; I know of no such organization.

Question. You never had any knowledge that it did really exist anywhere?

Answer. No, sir; I never knew of it. I have heard rumors in Baltimore in reference to some organization here. That is to say, I have seen newspaper reports and heard persons who have seen the papers speak of it. But from personal knowledge I know nothing.

Question. Do you think that the state of feeling is such there in Maryland that it would lead to an outbreak if a military organization. should see fit to pass through from the north, if there is no prospect or intention of any collision here; if they were coming on merely to the pageant? Suppose those military.companies from the north, or any considerable number of them, should attempt to pass through, for the purpose of attending the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, when everything was quiet and peaceable here, and likely to be-merely coming here to make a display, as they have in years gone by, not to fight anybody-do you think the people of Maryland would have any objection?

Answer. I am not able to answer that question at present. It would depend entirely upon the minds of the people. If there should happen to be any excitement, no doubt they would prevent their passage. There might probably be two parties, one in favor of their passing through and one opposed to it. They might possibly pass through the city of Baltimore, but I doubt extremely if they could pass through the counties; for, so far as my knowledge extends, the counties are almost a unit. That is my opinion derived from information from prominent men from different sections of the State. JOHN M. TORMEY.

No. 9.

WEDNESDAY, January 30, 1861.

JAMES HICKS sworn and examined.

By the CHAIRMAN :

Question. Where do you reside ?

Answer. In Colesville, Montgomery county, Maryland,
Question. How far is that from here?

Answer. Fifteen miles by the mail route. My post office is understood to be fifteen miles from Washington.

Question. Are you pretty well acquainted in this city?

Answer. I know several families here.

Question. This Colesville you speak of is a mere country seat, I suppose?

Answer. It is the district seat-the precinct of the district.

Question. Who is the representative in Congress from that district? Answer. Colonel Hughes.

Question. Have you ever heard anything with regard to an organization here, either secret or otherwise, that had for its object the taking of this Capitol, or any of the public buildings here?

Answer. I have not; no, sir.

Question. Never heard of any such thing?

Answer. I have heard it merely rumored that there was such a thing. I have seen the statement in print, I believe.

Question. Have you any knowledge that such an organization does exist?

Answer. None in the world.

Question. Have you any belief that one does exist?

Answer. No, sir; I cannot say that I believe any such thing?

Question. You never believed any of these rumors?

Answer. I cannot say that I have.

Question. Are you a prominent member of a military company Answer. I am a lieutenant of one.

Question. In the place where you live?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. The regular Maryland militia?

Answer. No, sir; a volunteer company that we are just getting up. We have no arms as yet; we have applied for them. Question. But have not yet received them?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Do you know whether any application has been made to any officer of that company by any person or persons to employ that company to either take, or to hold after it should be taken, the city of Washington?

Answer. I can be positive on that question. There has been no such thing asked.

Question. In no shape?

Answer. No, sir. Our company is gotten up merely as a home guard; and we want to ask the governor to allow us to stay H. Rep. Com. 79- -3

home, if such a thing can be done. There are several of us that are exempt under the militia act, and if they undertook to force us from home, we could very easily remain at home if we chose.

Question. It was gotten up with no sort of reference to any duty in this city, by way of seizing any of the United States property here, the Capitol, arsenal, or any of the department buildings, or holding them against the United States after they should have been seized ? Answer. With no reference to that; we are opposed entirely to coming to Washington at any time. Our ideas were that if it should become necessary, we would go with the south; that if a war should break out between the two portions of our nation, the north and the south, we should certainly side with the south.

Question. As between the two republics, you would prefer the south? Answer. Yes, sir; decidedly.

Question. You say that no proposition was ever made to any officer of that company to take by force any United States property here or elsewhere?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Nor to enter into any service unless there should be a state of war?

Answer. No, sir. I think very few persons know anything of our company except ourselves. We have written to Governor Hicks, and also to our lieutenant colonel, for arms. I suppose they are the only persons out of our neighborhood who know it, unless they have told it to some one.

Question. You are a landed proprietor there?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And you have a substantial interest to defend?

Answer. Yes, sir; we want to stay at home. I am postmaster there, and they cannot take me away unless they abolish my office. I think I will stay at home any way. If such a thing is necessary, we will defend our rights. If you could see our constitution you would see at once what our object is. It is in favor of the Crittenden compromise. One of them was sent to our office, and we incorporated it in our constitution.

Question. Are you acquainted with any member of a company in this city called the "National Volunteers?" Answer. I cannot say that I ever heard of the company at all. Question. And if there is such a company, you do not know that you know any of them?

Answer. No, sir. I have heard of a company gotten up here by a Mr. Carrington.

Question. There are two or three military companies here, and he is at the head of one of them, I think. Do you know personally Ex-Governor Lowe, of Maryland?

Answer. I do not.

Question. You never saw him?

Answer. I saw him once, I think, at an agricultural fair.

Question. So far as you know, no officer of your company ever had any communication, verbal or written, from him on the subject I have mentioned?

35

Answer. Not that I know of; and I think if it had been the case I should certainly have known of it.

Question. When did you first start about organizing this company? Answer. Probably four weeks ago. It was gotten up in what we call short order.

Question. And what you consider mainly for home protection ? Answer. Yes, sir; that was what we wanted. We determined to defend our rights if necessary.

Question. It had no sort of reference to any operations in this city, either present or prospective, on any contingency that might occur? Answer. It was put to vote if we should come to Washington to parade on the 4th of March, and it was voted down. They seemed to think that there might be some disturbance down here, and we did not want to be in the midst of it

Question. And you did not want to be the means of creating one either?

Answer. No, sir; we wanted to be at home.
Question. Are you an old resident there?

Answer. I have been living there for six years.
Question. Who are the officers of this company?
Answer. Mr. Berry is the captain.

Question. You are the lieutenant, you say?
Answer. I am the third lieutenant.

?

Question. Can you give us a list of the officers in their order? Answer. Mr. Berry is the captain; first lieutenant, Thomas Nolan; second lieutenant, Oliver Clark; third lieutenant, myself; orderly sergeant, Mr. Graves; ensign, John Bean; pioneer, James Flynn; sergeant, Josiah Harding; and there are eight corporals mixed up in the company somewhere; I cannot tell who they are.

Question. These are all prominent and respectable citizens?
Answer. Yes, sir; they are all freeholders.

Question. Citizens of your neighborhood?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Your company, you say, is organized under some law of Maryland?

Answer. Yes, sir; under the regular militia act.

Question. It is a volunteer company?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Such a one as is authorized by this law?
Answer. Yes, sir.

By Mr. BRANCH:

Question. You say your company is organized with reference to home protection?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. I suppose you in your neighborhood, near the border, are very liable to inroads from the non-slaveholding States?

Answer. We expected such. By the way, we have suffered a great deal from it.

Question. They very often come over and attempt to steal your negroes and induce them to run away?