I tell you plainly, that if such submission is not made, as I have indicated, I will be obliged to call out the Militia, and if a few thousands will not be sufficent, many thousands will be.

I sincerely hope that your people may do nothing that will make such a proceeding necessary. I hope also that they will be well disposed to co-operate with me in allaying the excitement of the public mind. Immediately discharge such persons as you have under Martial Law. Let them go without molestation. Abstain from all injury to private property. Let people go where they please without swearing them first to take no part against you. All such proceedings tend only to inflame the public mind, and raise up ten men to fight you for every one thus foolishly disabled.

Your committee assures me that you are sincerely desirous of preserving the peace, and if so, I hope you will co-operate in every thing necessary to allay the excitement in the minds of the people.

The following named persons, are reported to me as being detained against their will, by Martial Law, , A[ndrew] J. Higbee, , P. F. Rolf [P. T. Rolfe], , J. Rolph. It will tend greatly to allay excitement, if they shall be immediately discharged and suffered to go without molestation.

It is also reported here, and generally believed, but whether truly or not, I have not yet learned that there are many foraging parties abroad from , committing depredations upon the cattle and property in the vicinity. These acts, if correctly reported, must absolutely cease immediately if you expect any person here to have the power to preserve the peace.

In case the persons accused, should make no resistance to an arrest, it will be against orders to be accompanied by others. If it should become necessary to have witnesses on the trials, I will see that such person shall be duly summoned, and I will als[o] guarantee the safety of all persons as may be brought to this place from , either for trial or as witnesses for the accused.

If the individuals accused cannot be found when required by the Constable, it will be considered by me as equivelent to a refusal to be arrested and the Militia will be ordered accordingly. I am, Gentleman, with great Respect,