Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-05-20
The Boundary between West Viz
- ginia and Mar yland'
WE find in the Martinsburg States

DeiltT VuuliiVu w "ii'S vi" $3.50
iect than Mr.. Faulkner. and his let
ter i, an exhaustive review of the
whole mattey. 1t is interesting not
only IN itself, hat 81. II matte, of his
tory. We would be glad to publish
it entire. but have not the space to
snare. We make the following ex-
tract:
1t has always been my opinion
since the planting of the Fairfax
Stone on the 18th of October, 1146,
bv the commissioners duly empower
ed To ascertain the fir, fountain OF
The Potomac river, that the initial
point was established from which the
western boundary line Of Maryland
couM without any difficulty be ascer
tanned. The territory of Maryland
granted by Charles |. to Lord Baltl-
more in June. 1852, was described IN
the grant as "that region bounded by
a line drawn from Watkins Point on
Chesapeake bay to the ocean ON the
east. thence to that part of the eStua
~ ~ Delaware on the north which
lieth u,der the 10Th degree where
New England i terminated: thence
in a RIGHT line hy the degree aforesaid
10 tie meridian OF the fountain Of the
Potomac; thence following It's course
by it farther hank to its confluence
II is plain, then, that the western
boundary Of this grant was the me
ridian ofthe fountain OF the Potomac
from The point where it cut the 4cth
degree Of north latitude to the foun-
tain of that river. In Virginia we
have always considered that point as
definitely fixed bv the planting OF
the Fairfax Stone IN lI46; but Mary
land. not regarding herself a any
party to the proceeding under which
this point was ascertained. cohtrnver-
ted the binding effect Of that decision
of thr King in council. and asserted
other claims founded upon her own
construction of her character.
You are doubtless aware that the
territory grant d to Lord Baltimore
was undoubtedly within the charter
ed limits of Virginia. and was the
first example of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ola colony. and the creation Of 4 new
one within It's Limits, by the mere
act of the crown Virginia protested
against this invasion of her charter
ed rights and ALWAYS held the grant
NJ MARYLAND, as dsrogatory TO those
right. p utterly void. until the com
menccment of our revolutionary
struggle. when by her constitution
adopted on the 29th of June, lIl6.
she, IN that spirit of magsnimitv and
self-sacridcing patriotism which has
ALWAYS so pre- emirently distinguished
her. coded to the COLONY of Maryland
the territory contained within her
charter. with all the rights of proper
tv. Jurisdiction and government
which might at any time heretofore
have heen claimed by Virginia.
x r x = X
In recent communication in your
paper. your correspondent speaks of
nv having been sent 10 England 10
examine the colonial records there in
connection with this inquiry. This
: an error Ny instructions fully
au horned me to proceed to London
but did not deem it necessary. |
.scertaincd there was Il trunk in the
possession of the representatives OF
Lord Fairfax in Virginia which had
not been opened for many years, and
ahich it WAS supposed might contain
all the documents that ] was in pur-
suit Of. ! obtained permission !" ex
anime that srunll. and there | found
all the original grants Ct the crown.
with the snyal seals and signatures
annexed. and al the documents
which had resulted from Il litigation
of sixteen wears, and which conc!u-
>ivelv established in our favor the
point then in controversy between
Marvland and Virginia. A list of
those papers, numbering twentr-slx
nav ne seen in report IL the Govern
~ # Virginia. When my report
Wa pub!ished and transmitted to IN"
Governor and members of the leglS-
la,ure of Marvland, the evidence de
rived from these documents and pa
pers was 50 overwhelming and con
elusive that orders were Siven for the
immediate di>mj>>ion OF the bill filed
in the supreme Court of the United
States and the claim to the territory
living west "f the South Branch
abandoned forever.
= x x
have read with much interest the
rep,r, of Lieut. Michler OF the |. ).
Corps of Typographical Engineers.
and have ONLY to regret that the want
of funds. and the occurrence of our
civil troubles, prevented hi> compile
ting the work assigned to him rs full
" rs it vas his purpose TO do He
commenced his survey starting from
the Fairfax Stone ON the 18th of
June. 1889. That stone he says.
stands - a spot encircled by sever
al small streams flowing from the
springs about it, II consists of Il
rough, piece of sandstone, indifferent
and fyiable. planted to the depth Ola
few feet in the ground, aad rising a
foot or more above the sartace.
ShapelesS in form, it would scarcs