The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-09
PublIshed by Request J
interesting HistorIcaI Facts-.--VIr
L xinIa's Claim as the mother OrStates.


Interesting Historical FHcts-.--Eir-
sInia's Claim as the mother OfStates.
In 1906 or Z, King James of Great
Britain granted to what was called the
London Company a tract OF territory
commencing at Old Point Comfort and
running two hundred miles north,
thence west to the Western Ocean; in u
southern direction the line ran two
hundred miles south of Old Point Com
fort, and thence west to the Western
Ocean. If the terms of this convey
ance were to be Teckoned by geographi-
cal miles il would bring the northern
line to latitude 4Oidegrees and 20 min
utes; if the calculation were by Eng
lish miles it would not vary over i've
miles from the south line of Peunsyl-
vania. In the division of territories
there was some trouble between the
Plymouth and London Companies, and
it is but fair to conclude that the line
as now 6xed is the one mutually
agreed upon. If a line was run due
west, from the southern line of Penn
sylvania to the Mississippi, there would
not be more than one-sixth of the
Northwestern Territory south of said
line.
II may here be remarked that when
this grant was made, nothing was
known orthis Western Territory. Sub
seuuent events have shown that the
credit of its discovery is due 10 the
French missionaries from Canada,
which facts invalidate the claim of the
London Company, obtained as il was
under the British crown. The policy
pursued by the London Company was
SO Mt variance with the views of the
government that their charter was
taken from them in 1920. Virginia was
the legitimate representative of the
London Company. If those who boast
of the immense ltberality of Virginia in
giving an Empire to the United States
could but establish n just claim to any
part of the territory, it would somewhat
mitigate the character of their boast-
ing. a5 rs1
was the first 10 discover the Falls of
Niagara, which took place in 1868.
There was settlement made at Detroit
in I6TO-there was a permanent settle
ment made by the French at Kaskaskia
in .l673. Immediately following the
above dates settlements were made at
Mackinaw, Vinceunes and -Duquesne,
w which is now the place where Pitts ourg
is located. Subsequent to the above,
various locations were made by the
Catholic missionaries from Canada.
1t is considered an established law of
nations that they who drSt discover
and hold uninterrupted possession are
the bona tide owners of II country. II
was the French who discovered
the Northwestern Territory and enjoy
ed Quiet possession of it until the war
war OF 1855. This war between the
French and English resulted in the
conquest of Canada, and was followed
by The treaty Of 11o5, at which time
Canada, as well as the Northwestern
Territory, was ceded by the French TO
the English. These facts considered,
what shadow of a claim had Virginia
to said territory; especially AFTER all
matters had been adjusted by the treaty
of 1853. The British government gave
instructions to the Colonial govern
ors to make no grants OF LANDS lying
west of the head springs which dis
charged their waters into the Atlantic.
1t is believed that the above statement
is correct; If so, Virginia can claim
nothing more than her fair proportion
of said territory as having been wreSt-
ed from the British government Dy tne
Joint efforts of the old thirteen states.
If the division of the Western Ierrlto-
nv was graduated by the efforts OF It's
ACQUISITION, Virginia would not be en-
titled TO the lions part. Massachusetts
alone furnished to win our independ-
ence s. 572 soldiers more than all the
slave States combined -
The halo of glory which has encir-
cled the brow of the Old Dominion for
the last seventy years. loF neE SUI POSeN
iberaIiLy in bestowing an empire on
her sister States, is, by the above facts,
somewhat diminished. The lnisrepre-
sentation of the Southern chivalry has
been so long and often repeated that
the public esteem it an established tactr
and no one has had the hardihood to
doubt her just claims in this matter. IL
must not be inferred from the above
remarks that any one would withhold
any just need of praise that is Virgin;
las due. Far from it. Neither should
she be allowed to enjoy never-endtng
immunity OF praise TO which she is moi
entitled.
The above historical facts are princi,
paIly gathered from Pftkin's Statistics
of the United States. y, P. a.
ELM GROVE, Ohio Co., West va.
Feb. %, 1856.
SPOTTED LIKE DoMINoEs.-The teeth
soon become speckled il every dehle'