Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-10
Rom Ne South Breach IateVigeneer.

INfbUt Etf -
MARYLAND has again revived her Claim TO
the territory lying between the NoRrH and
SourH Branches Of the Potomac river; and
we understand, during he last session of her
General Assembly, adopted some resolutions
with a view of bringing this old feud before
the Supreme Court OF the U. STATES, tor hnal
determination. Not gsesdy apprehensiye of
the result, and yet G.4I3sed - spirit OF
prudence to proyide fot every contingency,
the General Assembly Of this State, also,
during It's recent session authorized the 10
vernon to appoint a CoHHissIoSsR' 70 col,
lect and preserve whatever evidence could
at this distant day be procured, III relation TO
that boundary line;- aad IN conformity
thereto, the last MaItlnsburg 6azette 10
form, ~. that CHARLES JAMES FAULKNER,
Esq, Of that place, bias bern appointed by
the Governor of this Commonwealth, to
perform he duties of said Office.
The claim Of Maryland, we believe, an
braces about a half a milton OF liud, some
Of IT the richest land in Virginia; and II sue
cessrnl would deprive IL Of about one bali Of
the counties Of Hampshire and Hardy,-one
third Of P~EspLEroN, and parts Of RANDoLPH
and pREsroy. 1t may be well - cast a
glance at the grounds, upon which this bold
| and Formidable demand rests. The true
! houndary. between this State and the State
Of Marylaud, depends on the question,
WHICH Is II FIRST FoUHTAIE OF THE
RIVER PoToMso,-a question "hIch we had
supposed was long slIce settled, not only
by the omrnon understanding OF the coun-
try, bui by accurate surveys and positive
! adjudication. The fact that the South Branch
is the largest stream. and extends iaTthest
| we9fNardly, has Afforded 10 Maryland, some
| p~retence Tor asserting this claim hut when
we eonsi Ter that at the date Of the grant Of
the Northern Neck Of Virginia, the North
Branch vas uniformly held to be the true
head stream Of that river-tnat such was
! manicestly the understanding Of the grantor
and grantee of that Terutory-thlt it was
so, soifmnly decided to be, in ihe middle OF
the 18th century after accurate aad labo
nous examinations aud Surveys; and so tacit
~ admitted by MARYLAND herself IN the coin.
pact between that State aad Virginia; we
cannot bot regard this prctensIon Of our
sister State, about IS Idle and unloundGd, as
il is stale and obsolete.
There il in this country. at the corner OF
the present division libe between Maryland
and Virginia, a stone marked / \. familiar
" called Fsirfax's stone, which tradition in
fotms ia was planted shortly after a deci
sion Of the British Government in i18J, and
intended to designate the true bead .prIng OF
the Potomac River in accordance W:th the
decision Just ref rred to BY The i,r'tiso 30
yeTnment. We presume there arc UCUe how
living, who assisted at he laying of that
stone, although ;, It is possible there are SONS
in this county, who may have derived then
Information immediately from thoee wh1
were so engaged We understand tLat ii i
the duty OF Mr. FAUaKHEa, 10 collect aad
preserve all evidence Of the kind, and "e
would therefore recommend II 10 t1ose who
mag possess any valuable information upon
this subject. to communicate the fact To him.
We are authorized by him to say that he
will shortly attend IN this county, il the dis
charge OF tht duties confded To him.
The claim Of Maryland to this large slice
Of our territory, although never permitted
entirely to slumher for many years together,
has recently been revived in a more vigorous
and determined spirit of pFoSecution, than at
any previous period Of her history We do
not regret this, Ii she is d. termined TO liti-
gate the question, the SCORER she common
ces the better. We hate old claims, and
long pfnii1g cOntrovcrsies.-Dut we would
take the liberty of respectfully suggesting to
our mlld confederate sister. watcher she has
not selected a most U~NFobTUNAFE period for
seeking redress by an appeal TO the N
prcme Court Of the e.. States Surely il
Georgia can set at deGance a solemn deci
sion of that tribunal in 9 case ike that
which has recently occurred. il could scarce.
" be supposed thar the commonwealth Of
Virginia would consent without a strIgel TO
part with half a million of her terri tory and
seventy thousand of her population But
bad'nagc apart. IL she is determined upon
it, Virginia wilt defend her cilims with every
possible exhibition of kindness, courtesy and
good feeling. -
Oae Of the Liverpool papers states that
Mr.. Van i}uIen would embark at Potts
mouth for the United States on the lst Of
April. He may proceed from SoutAhamp
ton to Havre, but we doubt his direct en-
barkation in England ior this country. IIe
was still on a eisii 10 The Kiag as late as the
25th March ~ Y Simtaard.
HAGERsTowN, (Md.) MAY 3.
Many Of eur readers are not aware that
we have one hundred and eighteen arrivals
and departures Of Stages per week But
such Is nevertheless the fact. Three daily
stages leave our town for Baltimore; two for
Wheeling; two for McConnelshurg; one for