Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-20

counties respectfully sheweth,
THAT company known by the name
Of the Indiana Cemhony, under purchase
made, or pretended TO have been made
rom the Indian natives, lay claim to a
great proportion OF the lands included in
the said counties Of Gononcalia, Ohio,
Randolph and Wood, and to all The lands
included in the said County of Harrison.
That in the year l779, and previous to
the passing of the acls for adjusting the
titles of claimants, 10 unpateuted lands en-
The Western waters, and fer establishing
land Office, the Legislature Of the Com
monweslth took the claim of said Cnmpa-
ny into consideration, and solemnly resoiv.
ed that the same was null, void. and of mo-
effect. That the Legislature in the same
year passed an act for declaring aud as
"'sertIng the rights Of this commonwealth
concerning purchasing lands from Indi.
" an natives" from which it appears, lhat
they considered al. claims similar to those
oil the said COMPANY utterly void and OF
no effect. That relying upon the discern.
ment and good fait., Of tire legislature, and
considering the Commonwealth as Sc
lcmn!y pledged to main ain and defend the
titles 10 be acquired under its laws an-ainst
the claim Of The said company, the cj,i-
zens of the counties aforesaid and others
proceeded TO obtain titles for lands within
the limits of said claim that for cornpo.
sition money upoa settlement rigats, Tor
prescription and treasury warrants and
grant lees Tor lands included within tie
claim OF said Company, there must have
been paid INTO the Treasury OF the Com
monwealth atieast $685. 600 dollars. Tha,
the owners Of lands within the claim Of
said Company have also paid large sums
Tor taxes to the Commonwealth.
That the said company have lately cann.
menced suit in Chancerv in the Fede-
raj Circuit Court againsta number of your
Petitioners holding 'ands under grants
from the Commonwealth within the linn
its Of said claim.
Your petitioners beg leave to represent,
That MS TIE legislature or tho Common
wealth, after full investigation of the
claim OF said comPaav, solemnly declar-
ed the same not to be founded in lew or
equity, & then proceeded TO dispose oc the
lands within the sod claim Tor valuable
consideration, The Commonwealth sbound
by every ne Of justice and good faith to
defend and protcGi The titles thus acouir-
ed under its laws: that although the pre-
sen, suit is against sn III portion only Of
the persons holding lands under the Com
moowealth.s agents, yet that tie decsi-
on WIZ eitcctva'; numbers that although
your petitioners are fully dispoaed to con-
form TO the laws OF their country, they
dread the consequences which may arise
iroH dispossessing 30 OF 10000 pecp,c Of
property, which W. Gil, aad hones..y,
and as they supposed legally acquired,
and which constitutes the only means OF
procuring a support Cor themselyc. and ia
miles.
Already have great and serious incon.
veniences arisen from the claims Of said
Company. The settlement OF the coun.
try has been retarded, citizens from other
parts OF the Union being unwilling to be-
come purchasers Of disputed claim, and
'hosc who have purchased, refusing. to paw
the purchase Osoncy from an apprshensi-
on that they may lose the lands.
Your petitioners therefore pray that a
provision may be made by law for derray-
ing out oil the treasury of the Common.
wealth the expenses Of defending the suit
aiorefaid now pecii.ng in behalf Of The
Company aforesaid, and that such o;hcr
measures may be adopted foe securing
your Petitioners in the pcaccablc possessi-
On Of their lands acquired as aforesaid,
IS TO your Honorable body shall appear
Just end right, and your Petitioners as in
duty bound will pray, &c.