Unknown to Simon Cameron, September 20, 1861

; September 20, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report, in obedience to the order of the Secretary of War, and the general commanding the Army of the Potomae transmitted to me by letter of the 12th instant,* that all the members of the Maryland Legislature assembled at Frederick City on the 17th in-

* These instructions cannot be found. .

ET ` ds ee ae 3 2s weet AE deed ` x ^ X 4 2 ” 1 s

» Stant known or suspected to be disloyal in theirrelations to the Government have been arrested. . – The opening of the session was attended chiefly by Union men, and . afterrigid examination but-nine secession members were found in the city. These were arrested, with the clerk of the senate, and sent to An- . napolis, according to my orders, on the 18th instant, under guard, and – safely lodged on board a Government steamer in waiting for them. Of ^» their destination thence I had no direction. The names of the parties thus arrested and disposed of were as follows, viz: B. H. Salmon, _ Frederick; R. C. McCubbin, Annapolis; William R. Miller, Cecil County; Thomas Claggett, Frederick; Josiah H. Gordon, Alleghany County; Clark J. Durant, Saint Mary’s County; J. Lawrence Jones, Talbot County ; Andrew Kessler, jr., Frederick; Bernard Mills, Carroll County; J. W. Brecolt, chief clerk of the senate. No meeting of the senate occurred ; but three.senators were in town, . and those were Union men. Three subordinate officers of the senate, – the chief clerk and printer of the house, and one or two others were also ` ~ arrested, but released after the departure of the members for Annapolis upon taking the oath of allegiance. :

Milton Kidd, clerk of the house, is in the last stages of consumption, beyond the power of doing harm, and was released upon taking the oath and making a solemn declaration to aet no further with the legislature under any circumstances whatever. This course was adopted upon the urgent solicitation of the Union members present. The same parties desired the release of R. C. MeCubbin, of Annapolis, upon the same condition. I telegraphed to the commander of the steamer that

_ he might be left at Annapolis under sufficient guard until the orders of the Government could be ascertained. ; . Oolonel Ruger, Third Wisconsin Regiment; Lieutenant Copeland, my aide-de-camp, and a detachment of police rendered efficient aid. :

Sufficient information was obtained as to preparations for board, &c.,

to lead to the belief that the attendance of members would have been -large had not the arrest of some of the leaders been made at Baltimore on Saturday and Monday before the day of meeting. e – lregret the attempt at Frederick was not more successful.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, .