Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1861-03-29
Boundary Lines Of Virginia and Maryland

We have had before us for several DAYS the
repori of Col. A. w. Mcdonald relative to
his mission to England, to procure authen.
tic testimonials of the boundary lines of Viz
CHINA aud Maryland
The question of boundary jurisdiction Le.
tween the two States, long unsettled, and 4
source Of continuing aud increasing embar-
rassment, has more recently become Ot grea-
tor Importance to our Northern border. from
the mouth of the Potomac up to the a ,le..ha-
MES. BY recent judicial decision vi the
Courts of Maryland. that State, now claim,
jurisdiction over the WaIers oil tie Potomac:
aud up to high water line On its Southern
banks, from Its spring thrUu. bout It's cn,ie
course to tide water.
II c magnitude OF interest to our people
involved in this claim of jurisdiction w.i be
appreciated; Sheh it IS known that 1t g.yes
up the control of all the icrr.es-ot Nil tho
landihks aid Wharis on the river Potomac
above Iidewater, to the legislation and the
taxation Of the State of AlarYIan The con-
flicting. Claims of the two States as to their
true boundary lines, also involve important
territorial questions that embrace IA large Tract
Of coal and mineral lands in the Ailegnanie>;
and at the other end of the line bind.ng OF.
Accomac county, is involved claim to ter
ritory now under the jurisdiction of Mary
land, which contains about 80 square miles
and considerable population.
1t was to collect evidence aid to procure
the tiIiitimetits Of title thIt would establish
the right Of VirEihia over these important
subjects, that the Legislature. by act passed
10th March, 1860, authorized this mission
to England. Col. Mcdonald had previous
II been commissioned to run this boundary
line, in coijuhction with Col Lee, cont
missioner on the part of Maryland; and he
was most fitiy, VIC will say, most fortunately
for Virginia appointed by Governor Lechcr
to fulfill this mission. He sailed GU the IUJli
of June and arrived in London on the 2jth,
where he addressed himself to the discharge
of his duties with zeal, ability and untlring
energy. After months of ardtiVus and uu>
ceasing exploration; he has emerged from tie
mustg archives OF the British tolohial office,
and of the British museum, where dcpus-
tied the authentic materials of our colonial
| history and, he brings as the fruits OF hIS
! labors, mass Of weIl-digested proofs that
must settle Forever the delicate and iHPor-
tant questions of territory aud jurisdiction
| between the two States.
His labor has been no superficial labor,
| but, guided by shrewd discrimination, kc
has suspected errors in the translation OF the
carly charters coming down tlrroug happarent-
| II authentic hist ries, and tracing back tothe
royal grants themselves, GALL in the Latin
language) he is thus Rnabiel to point out
| the departures from truth, which have nys-
| tilted the respective rig hts Of the two States
and involved otir present ti0Gble.
Col Mcdonald will deposit ia the State
Department fiiue volumes of manuscripts, ana
one volume ofancient maps, well authenticat-
ed taken from writers Of those early times,
and as matters of cOtempOraaeOus history,
showing the intent of the early charters, aud
most conclusively settling these questions OF
boundary. His researches disclose some
most curious history, among which is the SIN
gular ignorance of our geography that was
obtained as late even as lT20. 1t was not
then Q40ycars since known that the Pote-
mac headed beyond the Blue Ridge.
We have not space to comment upon the
great value of these labors to the State OF
Virginia. They have placed in our hands
the ample evidences to establish and settle
the largest interests of our border citizens.
They give us the northern bank Of fhe To-
tomac, from the bay to the Allegheny, as our
boundary line. They give Us additional ter
ritory nd population on the bay itself. VIC
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 lines as run by her own recent
Commission. 1t may be, she will refuse 10
adjust these questions by the new l5e:hts evol.
we'd By the labors Of Col. Mcdonald.
Richn,ond Enquirer.
SfeSmGPt SafSoah Vow rhrk xuG fhe South.