National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-25


facts: In May, 1909, King James granted
a second charter incorporating the Lon
don company under tho title Of the
treasurer and company of adventurous
and planters from tho city Of London for
tho first colony Of Virginia." and created
n council to manage and control it with
other necessary otliccrt Tho territorial
limits of the colony were intended to en-
brace tho whole soacOAst north and south
within 200 miles Of Old Point Comfort,
extending from sea to sea west and north
west and also "all the islands within 100
miles along the coast Of both seas
Of tho precincts aforesaid" evidently
meaning tho Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Tho third charter was granted By the
same sovereign in 1912, and it annexed
to Virginia oil the Bermudas Tho three
charters were vacated In 1895, and the
London Virginia Company dissolved with
loss Of G150,000. In 1925 King Charles
l issued royal proclamation for COM
mission to govern Virginia, and trans
forming Virginia into royal province
After this tho chartered limits were re-
duoed by including successive portions OF
il in other colonies, which were Mary.
land, Delaware, North Carolina, parts Of
Pennsylvania, Now Jersey South Caro-
lima, and Georgia. The rosiduum Of tho
original territory Of the first colony of
Virginia was claimed by tho state Of Vir-
,rinia at the breaking out Of tho revolu-
hionRry war, and was aftorward ceded TO
the confederation for national uses.
A bill or declaration of rights was
adopted by a convention of forty-four
members Of tho colonial house Of bur
gesses in l776, and constitution was
also framed and ratified by popular vote.
Tho enormous western possessions OF
Virginia were finally ceded to tho ma
tional government by that state in 1854.
vIRGINIAs GENEROUS OFFER.
Tho first official document bearing
upon this subject is in the form of reso-
luton "for n cession of the lands on the
northwest side of Ohio river to tho United
States" passed by the general assembly
Of Virginia Jan. 2, 1871. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
is THE HOUSE, OF DELEGATES, TUESDAY THE 2D
or JANUARN, l1Sl.
Tho general assembly Of Virginia, being we'll
tAtisiied that the happiness, strength aud
raiety OF the United States depend upon Proyi-
dcnCe, upon the ratification of the articles for
a federal union between the United States,
heretofore proposed by Congress Tor the CON
alteration Of the said states, and prcicrring
tao good OF their country to every object OF
smaller Importance,
~. Tcs9ite, That this commonwealth will
ls!d 10 the Congress Of the United ,StAtes for
tho benefit Of the said United States all right
title, aad claim that the said commonwealth
Haia 10 the lands northwest Of the river Ohio
Ipu;i ;nJ following conditions, TO wit That
t,s :er!;ory 80 coded shall be lard out and
iyT,nct into states containing q suitable ex-
tt. % territory, and shall not be less than 100
ios Acne than 100 miles square, or as near
fr afHV Had
t,a;1s so forincd shall be distinct republican
ktHles, and be Hen!ttod members of tho fed
,ral Gnion. having the same rights of SOW
cisisniy, freedom. and independence as the
Other states.
lnnt Virginia shnl bc allowed and fully ro.
imOurscd by the unltcd States her actual cx-
ncrses in reducing the British posts at the Kas.
RaSkics and ST. Ninccnts. The expense of
maintaining gnrfisons and supporting civil
government there since the reduction Of the
said posts, and In general all the charge she
has incurred on account Of the country ON tho
northwest side of the Ohio river since the com
.~~.'"~-'"r' Of 'se pivssht Wa
That all the remaining territory of Virginia
included between the Atlantic oco"n and the
southeast side Of the river Ohio and tn Mary.
land, Pennsylvania, and NoIu .arolina
boundaries shall be guaranteed to the com
monwealth of Virginia by the said United
States.
That the above eession of territory by yir.
ginin 10 the United Stntcs shall be void and OF
none effect unless all the states in the Ameri.
can Union shall ratify the articles of confcder.
alton heretofore transmitted by Congress for
the consideration OF said states.
ACCEPTANCE by CONGRESS.
The act of Congress accepting this first
offer of territory for new states was as fol-
lows:
BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEM-.
BLED, SEPT. 10, 1888.
Congress resumed the consideration of the
rcDOrt of the committee tina Uiroipfa oas
sion, and the same being amended TO read as
follows:
The committee to whom was referred the act
OF the legislature Of Virginia Of the I'd of Jan,
uary, l1sl, and the report thereon, report that
they have considered the several matters re.
ferTed tothem, and observe that the legislature
OF Virginia by their act of the I'd of January
l1Sl, resolved that they would yield to the
Congress Of the United States for the benefit oi
tho said states all right, title, and claim which
the said commonwealth hath to the land.
northwesto the river Ohio upon the following
conditions viz:
l. That the territory so ceded should be laid
out aud formed Into states, containing a suita,
BILE extont Of territory, not less than one hun
dred nor more than one hundred and fiity
miles square, or as near thereto as ciroum
Stances would admit; and that the states SC
formed should be distinct republican state,
and admitted members OF the federal union
having the came rights OF sovereignty, free
dom. and Independence as the other states.
:. Thai Virginia should be allowed and fully
expenses In reducing the British posts ut th,
Raskaskics and 81. Nincents. the expense o
maintaining garrisons aud supporting ciyi
government there since tho reduction of III,
sU.G posts, and IN general all the charge sht
has Incurred on account q the country on tn,
northwest side OF tho Ohio river since tht
commencement of the present war.
3. That the French and Canadian inhab
itants, aud other settlers Of tho Kaskaskies, 81
Nincentsy and the neighboring villages, wht
have proiessed themselves cltiIcns OF Virginia
fTpa A .G.t....
trmed 10 them, and should be protected In Iii,
enjoyment OF their rights and liberties 10
which purpose troops should be stationed
protect them from encroachments of the Britisl
forces at Detroit or elsewhere, unless I'M
events OF the war should render it impraoti
cable.
8. That all tho remaining territory OF Vir
ginla included between the Atlantic ocean AM
the southeast sido Of river Ohio. and the Mary
boundaries should be guaranteed to the com m
monwealth Of Virginia by the said Unitet
States.
Wheroupon your committee are Of tn
opinion that the first condition is provided 10
by the act Of Congress of the 10th Of October
1850. That in order to comply with tho secOnt
condition as far as has been heretofore pro
Yided for by the act OF the 10th of October
1880, II is agreed that one commissioner shout,
be appointed by Congress, one by the stat
oi Virginia, and another by those two commits
Eiouers. who. or a majority OF whom, shoul
be authorized and empowered 20 adjust kn
liquldato the account of tho necessary an
reasonably expenses Incurred by tho said state
which they may Judge TO be comprised withi
the true intent and meaning OF the said rC
cited act.
As to the last condition your committee ar
OF the opinion that Congress cannot agree
guarantee 10 the commonwealth of Virgini
The land described In the said condition witt
out entering Into n discussion OF the right {
the state OF Virginia TO the said land and b
the act OF Congress II appears TO have bee
their intention, which the committee cannc
but approve, to avoid oil discussion OF the te
rtOrih rights Of the Individual stateS, an
only 20 recommend aud accept a cession {
their claims, whatsoever they may be, 10 VI
cant territory. Your committee conceive TIL