The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-05-03
THE BOUNDARY.
The Story of the Great EoundaryDis-
pute Continued.

TIL MA Ian ID RESOBCIIO-s w
1884.
The State Of Maryland seems to
have regarded the last act Of Vir-
ginia as refusal toaccept her over
lures for settlement of the bound
airy question, and on the 14th of
March, 1884, the legislature of
Maryland adopted q resolution (acts
1833-34, resolution No. 80,) recit-
ing chat it is necessary for the
peace and security of our people
and the dignity Of the State that
our southern and western boRnda-
rie8 should be finally settled and
defined; that this State has seen
with deep regret the refusal on the
part of Virginia to leave the settle
ment OF these boundaries to friendly
arbitration, as proposed by this
State" and then resolved "that
the Attorney General Of this State
be, and is hereby requested to canse
suit to be instituted in the name Of
the State OF Maryland against the
commonwealth of Virginia In such
a manner and form as may be tech
nIcally required in the Supreme
Court of the United States, for the
purpose of procuring a final legal
adjustment and settlement of the
southern and western boundaries.
Itfuther provided for the employ
ment of council, and then resolved
that Fall adversary proceedings on
the part of the State against the
State of West Virginia shall cease
at any time before suit be brought
or Judgment rendered, when that
State shall accept the overture Of
Maryland made by her resolution
ut December session, 1881"
SUIT BROUGHT.
In Pursuance Of this resolution
the Attorney General of Maryland
brought d suit in this honorable
court on the 20 day of October, 1884,
IN the name Of the State of Mary
land against the Commonwealth of
Virginia for settlement of the west
ern boundary Of said State.
SUIT DISMISSED.
On the 2lst of March, 1885, the
Legislature Of Maryland passed a
resolution (acts of 1885, resolution
No. 99) reciting certain portions of
a message of Virginia in which he
states the act of Virginia passed
March /, 1888, was intended as an
acceptance of the proposition of
Maryland in the amicable settle
ment of the question between the
two States, and that the determine
ton OF Maryland to seek a decis-
ion Of her rights by the judicial au-
thority of the union was probably
occasioned by misapprehenslon of
the terms of that enactment of Viz
ginia was susceptible of satisfactory
explanation, etc. And then repeats
the resolutions of1833 by which The
said suit was directed to be brought
and directs the Attorney General
to discontinue all proceedings under
the same. And also authorized the |
Governor of Maryland to transmit
a copy Of SAID resolution to the
Governor of Virginia and to COM
municate to the Governor of Vir-
ginia the earnest desire of the State
of Maryland to settle and finally
adjust the long pending question by
negotiations.
Acting presumably under this
the Attorney General of
Maryland on the Goth day of JAN
uary, 1886, dismissed said suit.
MARYLAND ACT OF 1852.
After this the matter appears to
have rested without any definite
action being taken until the 9th
of March, 1852, when the Legisla-
ture Of Maryland passed an act
(Acts 1852. chapter 275), as fol-
lows:
"WHEREAs, 1t is Of great import
ance that the western territorial
limit of the State of Maryland be
clearly defined and her boundary be
permanently established; and
whereas, the true location of the !
western line of Maryland between
the States of Maryland and Vir-
ginia, beginning at or near the Fair
fax stone on the North Branch of
the Potomac river, at or near its
source, and running in a due north
line to the State of Pennsylvania,
is now lost and unknown, and all
the marks have been DESTROYED by
time or otherwise; and whereas,
the States of Virginia and Mary
land have both granted patents to
the same tracts of land at or near
the supposed line, and as suits of
ejectment are now pending in the
circuit court of Allegany county,
in the State of Maryland, by per
sons holding under Maryland pat
ents, against persons now in pos
session and holding land under
patents granted by the State of
VIRGINIA such oopDot bo ;,o+1,r