The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-04-12

due north line from the Fairfax
stone to the Pennsylvania line and
laid out the lots as far westward as
this line but no farther. 1t will be
seen that the boundaries OF theAots
the courses and distances of which
are filed herewith as above stated,
all call for a due north line. This
is the line from the Fairfax stone to
the Pennsylvania line. And said
act of 1888 speaks of this lire as
the "present supposed boundary
line of Maryland, although it states
that the said line is in the opinion
of the General Assembly far within
that which this State may righttully
claim as the western boundary.
This language cannot be con
strued to be the assertion of IA claim.
to 90 to the head Of the South
Branch.
FIRST CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA.
The first constitution of Virginia
was adopted June 20, 171G. Sec
ton u of the constitution is as fpl-
lows: The territories contained
within the charter erecting the plo
MES of Maryland, Pennsylvania,
North and South Carolina, are
hereby ceded released and forever
confirmed to the people of those
colonies respectively, with all the
rights of property, jurisdiction and
government and all other rights
whatever which might at any time
heretofore have been claimed by
Virginia except the free navigation
and use of the rivers Potomac and
Pokomoke with the property Of the
| Virginia shores or strands bordering
on either Of SAID rivers, and all i'm
prOvements which have been made
or shall be made thereon. The
western and northern extent Of Vr-
glnia shall in all other respects
stand as fixed by the charter of
King james the first in the year
1909 and by the public treaty Of
peace between the courts of Great
| Britain and France in tile wear
1863. unless bv the act of the Leuis-
| Iature one or more territories shall
hereafter be laid off and govern
mtutS established westward of the
| Alleolny Maintains. And no mr..
chase of land sh.II be made of fine
! Indian natives: hut on behalf of
| the nnhlic bv authority of the Geu-
eral Assembly.
At the time this constitution was
adopted Virginia held M to the
| North Branch of the Potomac and
to the Fairfax some and these were
also the bonnd .rlrs of MARYLAND.
and as has been shown above
neither Lord Baltimore nor the col
ouv of MARYLAND had asserted 81.
taken any steus to assert or est ,tt;..TT,,h
anv other boundaries for that col
ony. Vlrglnit ,cognlzed the North
Branch as the Potomac river: this
is tn Potomac RIVER mentioned i'm
| the cOnStltu ton, OF winch she re-
tanned the free navigation and use
with the property of the Virginia
shore or strands bordering thereon
and all improvements which had
been made and should thereafter be
made thereon.
CONTROVERSY OVER THE SOUTHERN
BOUNDARY.
From the time the charter of
Maryland was grant, d there had
been serious controversy between
that colony and Virginia as to the
southern boundary tine of MARYLAND.
and this controversy hau resulted
in several armed conflicts between
citizens of the two co,onies The
principal cause OF this conflict was
the claim of Wllitm Claiborne to
certain territorial rights granted
him by the King. of trading with
the natives. ana of the settlement
of Kent Island by Vrginians prior
to the date of the MaI\lald charter.
These controversies and conflicts
are part of the history of the two