The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-05

THE WEST VIRGISIA BOUNDARY. - The
Preston (West Virginial Herald says: Fir.
pinia, nearly hslf century ago, issued
| patents for her ltnds up TO then recognized
| line as the western boundary OF the State OF
| Maryland. The patentees settled on their
respective grauts, and have claimed 10 DE
citizens of Virginia and West Virginia ever
since. The line above referred to ran from
| Lord FairfaX's stone north 10 the Pennsyi-
yania line. About the year 1882 Maryland
| set up a claim to all the territory then occu-
ped By Virginia lying north of the south
| branch Of the Potomac river and east OF
| line from the northwestern source oil sa'd
river north TO the Pennsylvania line. Flr-
ginia, to satisfy Mar! hnd and to vindica'e her
| tite 10 the territory she occupied, appoint
ed the Hon. Charles j. Faulkner COM
| missioner to 60 to England aud hunt up her
| munmcnts OF title. Mr. Faulkner found
documents showing that, at the instance Of
| Lord Baltimore and Lord Fairfax, the King
and Council had before the Revolution ap-
| pointed commissioners to find and settle the
| true boundaries OF the land in dispute, and
| that the commissioners did run and settle
| said boundaries, and that FairfaX's stone, at
the head Of the north branch of the Potomac
river, was placed there by said commission.
, err. About this time Il large mound was
| thrown up on the Pennsylvania line, sup
posed 10 be in the same longitude OF the
| Fairfax stone. After the Revolution line
was run and marked under the direction OF
! a gentleman and citizen of Maryland by the
| nume Of Deakins from FairfaX'S stone north
| TO the Pennsylvania line, which lntcrsected
SAID line little west of the said mound. VIZ
| ginia, in her liberalily, adopted the Dea-
kins line and granted her lands up 10 that
line, and Mary land made her iand-grants
conform TO the same. Just before the late
rebellion Virginia and Maryland appointed
| commissioners to again run line from FAIR
flxs stone north 10 the Pennsy lyania line,
and report to the Legislatures OF said States,
which latter line was. run, and its intersection
with Pennsylvania was stil west OF the Dea-
| kinS iue. Whether the commissioners ever
| reported is not ceraiuly known, but it IS
| known that Virginia never acted on or con-
| Cured in said last report drumming. Since
| the running of the last line, citizens Of Ma
| r, land hsve been covering the old Virginia
land. grants, embracing the lands between the
! Deakins line and the last-made line with
Maryla titles, and are driving our people
OF their lands. This conflict Of title cannot
be- properly settled by the courts nor By fire
and sword-at least, so think some of our
| people who have had taste Of the consu-
ming element. 1t might not iuiure the peo-
pie of Preston il the whole county was cedctt
10 Mary yand: still We do not like TO separate
from our sister counties. II, however, the
| threatened movement Of the return OF the
great klnawha valley to the old State should
! ae carried out, had we not better all return
and restore our old mother to her former
| greatness? Hard as this alternative might
| tc, sill! it would be better than to occupy
weak and dcienceie>s position. >ubJect To DC
| invaded and our rights tranpled upon by
our s,rorgcr and more avar!clous neIghbor.