Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-06-22
From the Baltimore Hmerican
BOUNDARY LINE OF MARYLAND
AND VIRGINIA.

"A Ire last session OF Inc Maryland Legs
lature sundry resolutions relative TO the
Southern and Western limits of this State
were referred 10 Commute of the Senate,
who subsequently made full Report on the
subject The Committee took up the inves-
LEGATION alb initiO, and presented 10 the con-
sderation otthe legislatures regular digest Of
the whole mass of facts starting from the very
title of Mary land TO herdomain. AS the ques-
ton is one of decided interest TO our citizens
and is likely 10 assume an increased degree
of importance before il is settled, we have
prepared, at the cost of some labor, a sum-
mary Of the prominent grounds taken by
the Committee in their Report. The his
tOrical character of many OF the circumstan-
ces noticed by the committee impars an in
terest TO them which, we doubt not, will rem
der this condensed view Of them quite ac-
ceptable. On an examination of the origin
al charter from the King OF England TO Lord
Baltimore, the committee find the grant so
defined by indelble natural boundaries,
leading from point TO point all round it, that
it caused no little surprise in them 10 learn
from the early history of the province the le-
gal perpleXities in which the Proprietary was
involved concerning them. In searching
the charter for the Southern and Western
Limits, the Committee remark that awe are
told to begin on that part of the Delaware
Bay on the north, which lies on the fortieth
degree ofnorth latitude from the equinoctial,
and are directed TO pass under said degree
unto the true meridian of the first fountain
ofthe river Potomac" The first fountain,
however, was never exactly defined by actu-
al observation and ms the Potomac had sew
eral tributaries, the South Branch of it hav-
inn fI,a a.. a L. Na-
considered the Potomac proper, and the
North Branch but a tributary. In a subse-
queDt explanatory section of the charter the
King instrucis all bis courts and judiciaries
to give the whole grant such Interpretation
as would be most beneficial and profitable TO
the grantee. According to the estimate Of
the late William Cook, the difference to
Lord Baltimore between the meridian ssirik-
ing the North and South Branch would lave
been 462 ass acres. Concluding therefore,
that it would have been most beneficial TO
have run the line TO the South Branch. the
Committee remark that il is scarcely posi-
BILE TO doubt that the whole country north of
the South Branch, was included in the char
ter
The Committee believe and report that The
limits defined by the original charter ought
Maryland. The right of the King to grant
was incontesible, and conceded on all hands
before the Revolution nor was the right of
Lord Baltimore TO his true domains ever
doubted or questioned by Virginia.
The true boundary has always depended
upon the first fountain Of the Potomac
The Committee remark that il was not ex-
pected that States which had struggled TO-
gether for existence in the Revolution,
would have differed about 50 small matter.
although il could have been settled long
since by actual survey. The constitution Of
Virginia cedes and confirms to Maryland and
other adjoining states all the rights Of prop
erty, &C. which migl have been previous
/ W claimed by Virginia, in order to allay
some dissatisfaction which bad arisen and 10
remove any difficulty arising out Of The Rev
olution. In 1885 compact was made be-
tween the two States toregulate the jurisdic-
ton Of the Potomic river but it is matter Of
surprise that the single question Of the first
foundation was LETT 10 be settled by subse-