Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-04-20

ana their wharveS In lthOde lslan0; Dut
the dividing line of the States would not
impair their title to both; and that the
road would be held under the laws Of one
State, and the wharves under those of
the other, just as the farm and flats were
now owned by me.
I further stated, that originally the up
land and flats, to the middle of the river,
were owned by Massasoit, the great
Sachem of the Wamponoags, who so
much befriended the Pilgrims of Ply
mouth when they arrived in this coun-
try; that, in like manner the land and
flats on the western bank Of the river,
and bay, were owned by Canonicus, the
Sachem Of the Narragansetts. 1t was
further stated, by me, that Massasoit
bestowed, as ] believe this very land to
the channel of the river, on Roger Will
liams, for good services done to him by
the founder of Rhode Island; and that
he made his first location, as believe,
on the southern shore of the Lyon farm;
from which he was removed by well
known causes. Moreover, when Me-
tacomet, called King Philip, sold Reho-
both to the people of Plymouth, he sold
to the channel Of the river, and that
those who held under that deed of King
Philip held as far as the grantor held,
This title to the property could not be
impaired by the jurisdiction. For
Rhode-Island, by her charter held ju-,
risdiction to the high water mark on the
east bank Of the river; but that charter
did not disturb the owners Of the fats,
below high water mark any more than
it did the owners Of upland above that
mark. When wharves were built on
these flats at the two points where this
Branch Railroad ended at high water
mark, and the owners Of the road were
made the owners of these wharves; they
would hold the road under the laws of
Massac chusetts and the wharves under
the laws of Rhode Island, and being
united at high water mark, the line of
jurisdiction between the two States, the
ownership could never be separated by
any law made by either: for | believed
no State in New England would ever
undertake, by Legislation, to invalidate a
deed Of land made in good faith and for
valuable consideration. Rhode Is
land would hold her jurisdiction to high
water mark; but title deeds were held
as sacred in that jurisdiction, and real
estate was as secure there as any where
on earth.
This, sir, is a short abstract of my ar
gument as to this part Of it, before that
committee. 1t is what stated publicly
and privately in all conversations while
at Boston. Let me tell you, also, that
/ told the editor, of one Of the papers
from which the Herald quotes, that he
had altogether mis-stated what / said:
and could ] have apprehended that any
editor in Rhode Island could, for mo-
ment, believe that l made that foolish
and absurd statement, attributed to me
in the HeIald, / should have contradict
ed it in the papers Of Boston. The truth
is, my opinion Of the editor Of the Her
aid was above his merit. l gave him
credit for some grains Of those qualities
which all honest and sensible men highly
prize; when in fact he seems TO be with
out one scruple in all those matters.
Sir, let me repeat the declaration: !
never, at any time, or in any place, or
TO any man on earth, said, or 50 much
as intimated, that the jurisdiction of
Massachusetts extended to the middle
Of Seekonk river: but on the contrary,
| have always stated, what all know and