Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-21
w s Variety Of Reading Natter '''H De
found on srtry Page Of tkis Paper
boundary Lines OF virginia and Mary

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boundary Lines OF virginia and Mary
land.
We have had before US for several days the
report Of Col. \. ". Mcdonald, relative to his
mission TO England, to procure authentic test'-
noo;als Of tho boundary lines Of Virginia and
Maryland.
TIE question Of boundary jurisdiction De-
tween the two States, long unsettled, and
scourcc Of continuing and increasing emoar'
rsssnent, has moro recently become OF IN
creased Importance 10 our Northern border,
FROM the mouth Of the Potomac up TO the Al
leshanies. BY recent judicial decision Of the
Courts Of Maryland, that State now claims
Jurisdiction over the waters Of the Potomac,
and up to high water line on its Southern
banks, from it's head spring, throughout Its
entire course to tide-water.
The magnitude Of interest to our people In
volyed il this claim Of jurisdictions; will be
appreciated. when it is known that it gives up
the control of all the ferries-of all the landings
and wharfs on tho river Potomac above tide
water, 10 the legislation and the taxation OF
the State of Maryland. The conflicting claims
g. the two States as to their true boundary
lines, also involve important territorial ques'
lions that embrace large tract of coal and
mineral lands in the Al!cghanies; snd at the
other end OF the line binding On Accomac
county, is Involved q claim to territory now
-
under the jurisdiction Of Maryland, which con-
tains about 50 square miles and a considerable
population.
1t was to collect evidence and to procure the
muniments of title that would establish the
right o: Virginia over these important subjects,
that the Legislature, by act passed 10th March,
1850 authorized this mission TO Ensland.-
Col. Mcdonald had previously been commits
stoned to run this boundary line, in conjunc-
ton with Col Lee, commissioner on the part Of
Maryland and he was most fuy-we will
say, most fortunately forFirginia-appointed by
Governor Letcher to fulfill this mission. He
sailed on the 10th OF June and arrived IN Lon
don on the 25th, where he addressed himself
to the discharge Of his duties with zeal, ability
and un,iring energy After months OF ardn-
Gus and uuccasing exploration, he has emerged
from the muSty archives Of tho British col
lonial office, aud Of the British museum, where
ere deposited the authentic materials Of our
colonial history; and he brings, as the fruits
OF bis labo:s, mass Of we'll digested proofs
thar must settle forever the delicate and i'm
portant questions Of territory and jurisdiction
between the TWO States.
His labc. has been no superficial labor; bat,
guided bl y shrewd discrimination, he has
suspected errors in the tranSlations OF the early
charters coming down through apparently
authentic histories, and tracing back to the
royal grants themselves, (all in the Latin Ian
guaee) he is thus enabled to point cut the de-
partures from truth, which have misti6ed the
respective rights Of the Two States and in
yolved our present trouble.
Col. Mcdonald will deposit in the State Dc.
partner, nine volumes oflnanuscriptS, and one
volume of ancient maps, we'll authenticated,
taken from writers of those early tinea, and
as matters Of cotemporaneous history, show
Ing the intent Of the early charters, and most
cone:usively settling these questions Of bcua-
darr. His researches disclose some most Gu
rious history, among which is the singular ig-
norance Of our geography that was obtained
as late even as 1920. 1t was not then GAO
years sincr,) known that the Potomac headed
beSold the Blue Ridge!
We have not space to comment upon the
pres. value Of these labors TO the State Of Fir-
gina They have placed in our bands the
amp.e evidences to establish and settle the
largest interests Of our border citizens. They
give us the Northern bank of the Potomac,
from the Bay to the Allegheny, as our boun-
Diary line. They gre US additional territory
and population On the Bay itself We hope
the Legislature will not let the subject continue
to rest in an unsettled state. We understand
that Maryland has refused to abide by the line
as run by her own recent commission. ltmay
be, sine will refuse to adjust these questions by
the new lights evolved by the labors of COL
Mcdonald.