other words, I combined all these things; the correspondence and conversations between these gentlemen and myself; the letters I received; the visit of the committee to me, pressing me, in the earnest manner they did, to convene the legislature; the conversation afterwards with the gentlemen to whom I have referred, and various other things-all these taken together inclined me to believe that there was a design on foot at one time, and that if they could succeed they would do it. But I could not look upon the matter as they did. I considered Maryland peculiarly circumstanced, and, in my judgment, such a thing must end in the destruction of the State of Maryland.

Question. Have you ever been informed verbally, or have you ever received letters from any persons known to you to be responsible men, that the person so speaking or writing had a personal knowledge that there was a conspiracy in existence for attacking the property of the government in this District?

Answer. No, sir; nothing except in that general way.
Question. What did he tell you?

Answer. That it was a certain, positive design. He spoke of numbers of armed men in the cities of Baltimore and Washington who were engaged in it.

Question. He stated that to you as positively a fact within his knowledge that there was such a design?

Answer. Not that exactly; but that he had heard it talked of. He spoke of such an organization, when his brother, who was present, chided him for being connected with such persons, saying he was not engaged in anything of the sort; and then gave his reasons, from knowing about it from other people, being in his position here, attending caucuses, &c.

Question. What I desired to know was, whether any responsible person ever informed you, verbally or in writing, that he knew of the existence of any such organization?

Answer. No, sir; I think not.

Question. All your belief is based on inferences and reports?
Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Have you ever communicated to Lieutenant General Scott that there was a conspiracy in existence to seize this District or this Capitol?

Answer. No, sir; I think, however, it would be improper for me to communicate anything that has passed between us in that way. He is a public functionary, and so am I; and I think it is not proper, unless the committee should decide otherwise, that I should repeat anything that has passed in that way. I do not hesitate to say that there has been a very limited correspondence between General Scott and myself.

Mr. BRANCH. The object of the inquiry is simply to ascertain whether the troops of the regular army have been stationed in this city by General Scott upon information communicated by Governor Hicks, in order that the House, after seeing all the information upon the subject, may see the propriety of requesting the withdrawal of those troops.

The WITNESS. I can settle that without going any further. Troops were called here before I wrote a syllable to General Scott.

The CHAIRMAN. The disposition of the troops is not a matter within the control of the House of Representatives, much less of this committee.

Mr. BRANCH. Only to request.

The CHAIRMAN. The President of the United States is commanderin-chief of the army and navy of the United States. In the use of the troops he is limited only to such disposition of them as would not be an act of war against a foreign government. He cannot declare war, and we cannot control the troops.

Mr. REYNOLDS. I do not see how we can do anything.
Mr. BRANCH. I will not press the question.

By Mr. BRANCH:

Question. From all the knowledge within your reach, from all your sources of information, verbal and written, are you of the opinion that there has been at any time any organization gotten up with a view to attack the government and its property in this District?

Answer. I firmly believe that there has been. I do not believe it exists now; I believe it has been disbanded.

Question. At what period of time do you think that organization was in existence ?

Answer. I do not say that it was in existence, but that I firmly believe that there was such an effort being made at one period. I believe so from the facts and circumstances brought to my knowledge. It may be that it is in existence now, as far I know; but I do not believe it is. I have very little doubt that there are secret organizations now in the city of Baltimore, limited in numbers and in power. Question. Having for its object an attack upon the government property in this District?

Answer. No, sir; but for the purpose of thwarting the regular course of public affairs. These are mere matters of opinion, based upon such information as I have stated here; I cannot put my finger upon any fact or individual that I know to be directly connected with it. But I think there is quite as good reason for believing what I do believe as there was for believing in the letters sent to Secretary Floyd in regard to the John Brown raid at Harper's Ferry. I think from all that I know that the letters I have received are much stronger than those were.

Question. Have you any information in your possession, other than you have already communicated to the committee, tending to show the existence of a conspiracy to attack the government and its property in this District?

Answer. I have nothing that goes beyond what I have already stated, yet I have information looking to the same point that I do not think proper to give to the committee, unless directly required to do so.

Question. In reference to your conversation with this committee that visited you, did I understand you to say that they stated to you that they knew of an organization in existence to attack the H. Rep. Com. 79-12

government and its property in this District, or did you infer that from their conversation?

Answer. No, sir; I only spoke of that as a circumstance confirming me in my belief that there was some design of that sort; the taunting me, and referring to my personal safety if I declined to call the legislature together; that, with other things, tended to confirm me in the belief that there was some such design in contemplation. [The above was examined and corrected by the witness.]

2d Session.

No. 87.

NAVAL FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES-WHERE SHIPS ARE NOW STATIONED, ETC.

FEBRUARY 21, 1861.-Ordered to be printed, and recommitted to the select committee.

Mr. DAWES, from the select committee, made the following
REPORT.

The select committee, to whom was referred the message of the President of the United States of date January 8, 1861, with special instructions, in partial discharge of the duties imposed upon them, further report:

That they were instructed, among other things, to inquire "where the ships of the United States are now stationed, in what command, and under what orders?" The result of this inquiry, together with such observations as the peculiar circumstances under which it is instituted suggest, they now respectfully submit for the consideration of the House.

The entire naval force of the country in commission and under orders on the 16th of January, 1861, together with the name of the commander of each vessel and the station to which each had been before that date assigned, appears by evidence furnished the committee from the Navy Department to consist of the following vessels: List of the vessels of the United States navy in commission on the 16th of January, 1861.

East India squadron, cruising on the East India station.

Hartford, steam sloop, Captain Charles Lowndes.
John Adams, sloop, Commander J. M. Berrien.
Dacotah, steam sloop, Commander William Radford.

Saginaw, steamer, Commander J. F. Schenck.

Vandalia, sloop-of-war, Commander S. P. Lee; on the way to the station.

Brazil squadron, cruising on the station.

Congress, frigate, Captain L. M. Goldsborough.
Seminole, steam sloop, Commander E. R. Thomson.
Pulaski, steamer, Lieut. Comg. W. H. Macomb.

Pacific squadron.

Lancaster, steam sloop, Captain John Rudd; at Panama, 3d Jan'y. Saranac, steamer, Captain Robert Ritchie,

Wyoming, steam sloop, Commander J. K. Mitchell, "
Cyane, sloop-of-war, Commander S. B. Bissell,

St. Mary's, sloop-of-war, Commander W. D. Porter,

Narraganset, steam sloop, Commander T. A. Hunt; on the South American coast.

Levant, sloop-of-war, Commander Wm. E. Hunt; at Hilo, 3d Sept.

Mediterranean squadron, cruising on the station.

Richmond, steam sloop, Captain D. W. Ingraham.
Susquehanna, steam sloop, Captain George W. Hollins.
Iroquois, steam sloop, Commander J. S. Palmer.

African squadron, cruising on the coast of Africa.

Constellation, sloop-of-war, Captain J. S. Nicholas.
Portsmouth, sloop-of-war, Commander John Colhoun.
San Jacinto, steam sloop, Captain T. A. Dornin.
Mystic, steamer, Lieut. Comg. William E. Le Roy.
Sumter, steamer, Lieut. Comg. J. F. Armstrong.
Mohican, steam sloop, Commander S. W. Godon.
Saratoga, sloop-of-war, Commander Alfred Taylor.

Home squadron.

Cumberland, sloop-of-war, Captain J. Marston; at Vera Cruz. Powhatan, steam sloop, Captain S. Mercer; at Vera Cruz. Pocahontas, steam sloop, Commander S. F. Hazard; at Vera Cruz. Pawnee, steam sloop, Commander S. C. Rowan; at Philadelphia. Brooklyn, steam sloop, Captain W. S. Walker; at Hampton Roads. Sabine, frigate, Captain H. A. Adams; under orders to Pensacola. St. Louis, sloop-of-war, Commander Charles H. Poor; under orders to Pensacola.

Macedonian, sloop-of-war, Captain James Glynn; on the way to Pensacola.

Mohawk, steamer, Lieut. Comg. T. A. M. Craven; supposed to be on her station, the coast of Cuba.

Crusader, steamer, Lieut. Comg. J. N. Maffitt; supposed to be on her station, the coast of Cuba.

Wyandotte, steamer, Lieut. Comg. O. H. Berryman; supposed to be on her station, the coast of Cuba.

Storeships.

Falmouth, sloop-of-war, Lieut. Comg. Chas. Thomas; stationed at Aspinwall.

Warren, Lieut. Comg. J. J. Boyle; stationed at Panama.