Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-03-08
Alexandria 0azette
SATURDAY EVENING. MARCH s.
A Colonial Land Controversy.

AT the neeliug of the New York Historical
Society Tuesday evening, Mr.. Douglass Camp
bell was introduced BY President Dc Peysser,
With some complimentary illusions to tho tlla
of paper in which every citizen OF Ne" ofk
IS interested, for few are aware that 10 colonial
times the whole tract northwest OF tho Ale.
gapy Mountains was Within the jurisdiction OF
tho State of New York, under the terms OF q
treaty with tho Indian confederation known a'
the Six Nations. MIR. Campbell gave very
full account, drawn from documentary sourec?,
of the great land controversy between New I ork
and Virginia, " hicb, 10 l77G, came earrupturlng
the unitv of tho colonies, and would have done 50
hut fer the generous and patriotic action OF
New York State 10 cedipg 10 tho United States
The whole tract in dispute. Tho speaker first
reviewed the colonial evidence bcaTIGg upon
the question, commencing with the pas
sage of an act by the Legislature OF the
Colony of Virginia recognizing tho Allegapy
mountains as the boundary of her jurisdiction.
This act was formally read to a council OF the
Six Nations. held at Albanyip 1922. Between
the years 1890 and 1906. New York spent
100000 10 enforcing the English claims to this
territory, to which the other colonies consrl'
tuted ESQ 90 only. 10 the first year OF the val
that cost Franco her American colonies, Ne"
York expended .e340, 900. This war commend
ed 10 contestiDg claims to the Northwest Ter
ritcr;. So little interest had Virginia in the
issue OF this struggle that, although her leels
lature voted to raised ,000meu. they were mover
raised. Tho NEXT year after it broke out 1t vas
reported that the Indians wcre raVagiog the
settlement Oh the border, ard call was made
fer troops. Twenty-Five men responded. Inc
year following Washington was empowered to
call out the whole militia, and just fifteen men
were raised. Ia tho meantime New York and
New England had contributed 10000 men to
the war. MI. Campbell reviewed the claims based
upon tho expedition of Col. Geo. Rogers CLARK
during the revolutionary war, and came down &c
the great territorial controversy that came near
wrecking the pre- ect Of unity represented by the
Articles of Confederation at one of the most
critical periods in our national history. These
articles contained provision that no state mould
he deprived Of any territory on behalf OF the
United States. Hero an unexpected obstacle
arose. Maryland held back; then Virginia, re-
gardless of the rights of New York, asserted that
her ancient grant entitled her to extend heI
boundary 10 tho Pacific Ocean. Connectcut
made similar claim under the grant OF lG62
empowered to grant portions Of this vast tract
Matters stood thus until l779, when Philip Schuy'
Ter addressed q letter TO the Rev York Legisls'
ture, suggesting tho cession Of her right to the
country of the Six Nations This suggestion was
promptly acted upon. Maryland then ratified
the articles, and committee was appointed by
Congress to report upon adverse claims Thelr
report was adopted and the question thus sd'
justed.