Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-05

Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Virginia 10
the western country. Ii claimed by Massachusetts
under the old charter 10 the colony of Plymouth, which
being conrmedby William aud Mary after the Revolution
ofl6S3, that State conendc that passing the inter
mediate grants their charter conveyed title 20 the
hnds TO the Pacific Ocean. The State Of Connecticut
clned one degree OF latitude TO th. Pacific Ocean The
State of Virginia by virtue OF its charter from James
claimed all the territory westerly of the line of Carona on
the side, aud of Maryland the other This north
westerly line by the State OF Maryland running, has
been con,cnded by Virginia gentleman, across the
continent struck the western somewhere in the
n,ighbohool OF Behring's Straits Whether this original
charter from James 1t had been surrendered revoked
annued oy proceedings upon cGsTdato, was no. 10 be
regardedhough i obvious by the charges o, Carolina
Delaware and Maryland, that considered 10 be void
The claim the State OF New York, TO the regions OF
tho west, founded It's original settlement BY tho
Dutch, prior date 10 the English settlement the
tinen', which settlement recognized by the Crown
Great Britain. II subsequently captured by the B
sh recapturcd by Dutch, aud finally and
cedcd Great Britain by trcatythc treaty of Brcda
he beloved. government was established by the Br-
si Crown, which compreheuded under its Jurisdiction
the whole cxPanse between the French settlements the
north aud TO the west Tho precise limits OF this govern
ment had never been hXcjBut the sion was
settled by the Dutch anterior any grants from the Crown
OF Great Britain recognized and confirmed as be-
longing 10 the Colony of New York, before the peace
i19S As FAR west as the British claim extended ii was
held by British agents appurtonant and dependent N
Y The country west of,hc Ohio in OF France
anterior to the peace OF l763. Before that ne the six
nations OF Indians dependent upon France, and
ccived subsidies from that power But after the peace
Pai5 that whole rcgioa placed by the British Crown
under the jurisdiction of the Colony OF New York. Sir
William johnson, oil the Kings counsclors for that
Colony, had the agency and control of Indian affairs from
the treaty Of Paris TO tho dino of his death-And after
his deccase his son. Sir John Johnson succeeded him in
this Office Both exercised exclusive jurisdiction all
the Indian tribes as far West as the Mississippi.
The history OF this claim the part New York
said Mr. K ii i not perhaps necessary pursue further
at this time He would therefore pass for the pre-
sent, aud consider the grant the United States the
H@es originally asserting claims 10 this western country
It Was granted by them to the United States
innd JOINT Stock appropriated particular and specified
oct ana MOI TO be greaci away i'll the prupos-
OF oy the gentleman from Illinois.
IN the year l7i6, the United Str.cs in Congress, vo-
ted TO raise IS boalons for c service of the country
against the common enemy ana mng other inducements
Tor engaging in this SERVICE Offer large bounty in land
which were TO DO taken from the uiseated lands or
crown lands they called, which lands be
conquered by our success in the struggle Ii then
understood that the several States claiming those uuseatcd
lands should cedc their title TO the u S. for the purpose
But notwithstanding this agreement, found in ire
that tho State of Virginia had established Land Office
and had begun To- sell tho western lands which she claim
cd to be within her territory The subject acted on
In Congress, and resolution passed requesting the
ete Of virginia TO forbear making those grants during The
continuance fthe contest
the Journal the Old Congress-
Congress then called upon the States TO cclc their
claims 70 TINS territory in order 10 fund carry
On the war and to stand security for the reimburse
mont OF the debt that had been incurred and was con-
tracing for that object On the 9th September 1880 this
ea was repeated upon the motion of the delegates from
Maryland in pursuance of expires, INSTRUCTIONS from
nor Legislature, grounded the at the articles
Of Confederation did embrace provision that these
lands should become the property Of the States
utter their conquest should be achieved The common
pense. This was the occasion of the repeated remon-
srances OF Maryland, New Jersey Rhode island On
this ground, the patriotic State OF Maryland at first refs.
90 TO come into the Confederation But after the
New York had surrendered its claim the Western re-
son; Maryland did come inneary two years after the
arncies were formed The principles upon which This
urrender made by Now York appear by the
report Of her Com meo charged with that subject Ii
was "bocauIc this surrender was essential 10 the public
welfare"
Here Mr.. r. read thc report at longth.I
this eloquent and powerful appeal every patriotic
OF
pers were sent to the several States claiming lands in The
West by order oc Congress and they were Called on in
strong terms. 10 make similar cessions
1t was resolved in Congress, 10Th Ocober 1880 that the
lands coded to the United States shall be for the
ocneht and shall be formed into independent republics
Here Mr.. X. read the resolution at length
Under this provision that the necessary expenses in
Cured by any State in defending acquiring territory
should be reimbursed Mr.. r. said the expedition of Viz
gina to reduce Vincenncs and Kaskaska instead being
carried on upon her own account made the subject
claim by Virginia. and wa reimbursed to her by the
United States But this the course of the State
New York; when Col Wilet under her orders a, her
expense marched through the wilderness and reduced Os-
wego On this occasion she made cllim re
As early as 1884, said Nj r. all the Western Terrific
ry beyond certain specified lines ceded by New York
10 tie United States Tho of the cession were ac-
coded to by Congress On the first Of May, 1882, the
port ola Committee of Congress upon the cesons of New
York, Virginia, Conncccu and the petitions of GER
tain companies OF private individuals who known by
the names of the Vandala, Illinois, and Wabash compa
res was taken INTO consideration Upon this report it
resolved that Congress accept the cesSion made by New
ioFk, OUT the ccSSion by Virginia not accepted.
Among the reasons stated were that the Territory had been
constantly under the jurisdiction of the colony of New
York. and that colony had borne the burten Of supporting
the six nations of Indians and the given for re-
porting against the claims OF the Illinois ADD Wabash com
panies was that these claims made under the title of
Indians other than those dependant upon tho State
York.
This report showed grounds ofhc acceptance of the
cesSion by New York, accompanied with high comp-
Inents upon the patriotism of that State well rs the rea
why the cession of Virginia wa not accepted These
were, because all the lands proposed be cecd were
claimed by Massachusetts,, Connecticut aud New York
that they claimed by Virginia only virtue of an an
nued chare and that they part of the lands of the
FIX nations, under the acknowledged jurisdiction Of New
York.
On the 18th April 1873, Congress resolved, as further
means OF extngui5ling debts, &c. recommend TO the
States 10 make cesSon5 agreeaby the previous resolu
nons- ne non compliance of Virginia with these reso
iuons had excited great neasness in those which
had nounseaied Crown lands. The State of New Jer
sey made an able remembrance this subject, part of
winch Mo X read. This circumstances he said was wor
thy OF the attentive perusa Of every member ofthc House
rs showing the patriotism OF the State of New JERSEY
kinedby the compliance Of Virginia with the earnest
anu repeated recommendations of Congress. The cesson
made by Virginia upon certain terms, deemed by Con-
gross sbc, was accepted 29h October 1852 upon
certain conditions, which afterwards acceded TO by
that State, after reiterated rcmonsranccs from the other
States
But whether the tile of these lands be derived from N
for& Virginia they national domain sacred 10 the
sP1cihed objects Of the grants These objects are spua.
ted. 'T
Here Mr.. II. read the terms1