The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24

cd TO as a. legal title by Virginia, was first
shown by Thomas Paine, the great pub
licist OF the American and French Rey-
oluuons. IN pamphlet called luDro
Good" (N orks of Thomas Paine. J., p
e50. written I'm 1850 and containing, as
the author says upon his title page an
Investigation OF the claims OF virginia
10 the vacant western territory ana OF
tie right OF the United States 10 the
same. with some outlines of a plan fof
laying out a now State 10 be applied as
q fund, for carrying on the war, or re-
dccmiug the national debit Paine shows
how The words of the charter of 1909 could
ho INTERPRETED in different ways, for eN-
ample the words AL along the sea-
coast" might signify a straight line or
the indentcd line of the coast. The chlei
ambiguity, however, lay in the interpre-
tatiOn Of the words up into the land
throughout from sea 10 sea, west ana
northwest" From which point on the
sea-cOast was the northwest line 10 De
drawn. from the point on the sed-cOast
two hundred miles above, or from the
point two hundred miles below cape
Comfort? The charter does not state
distinctly. The logical order of terms
would imply that the lower point below
Cape Comfort should be taken as the
starting point for the northwestern line
IN that case. Virginia would have a ir'
angular boundary and definite area
something larger than Pennsylvania.
The more favorable Interpretation for
Virginia. and perhaps, in view OF the
raj Interpretation. was TO draw the north
western line from the point on the sea
coast two hundred miles above Point
Comfort and the western line from the
southern limit below Point Comfort. This
gave Virginia the greater part, at least,
of the entire. northwest for the lines
divcrccd continually.
This grant included all the territory
from about few miles north Of Phil
adelphia TO about Wilmington. North
Carolina, 10 the west and northwest
from ocean 10 ocean. A look at a map
OF the United States Is sufficient 10 show
the vast extent OF this grant.
SUPPLEMENTAL CHARTER.
Fourth-On March Y, l6n, James l.,
Treasurer and Company OF Adventures.
90" an additional and supplemental
charter,
Combining the previous charter. also
all islands lying within one hundred miles
along the coast OF both seas
We would be pleased to grant unto them
an enlargement OF their limits and terri
tories into the seas adjoining to and upon
tho coast OF Virginia as also for some
other matters and articles concerning
the better government Of the said cOmpa-
ny and colony; in which point our said
former Letters Patent do not extend so
far as time and experience hath found
To be needful and convenient:
I'VE. therefore, doth grant "a
all and singular those islands. whereso-
ever situate, and being in any part OF
OF our said first colony in Virginia. and
being within 800 leagues of any of the
parts heretofore granted by former pat
ents, and being within or between one
fortieth and thirty degrees Of y. L.. to-
gtthcr with all and singular lands
both within the said tract Of land upon
the main. and also within said Islands
and sea adjoining whatsoever and there
unto or thereaOOuts, both by sea or land.
being or situate
provided always. that the said islands
or any premises herein mentioned or by
these presents intended or meant 10 be
granted, be not actually possessed or in
hablted by any other Christian prince or
estate. nor within the bounds &c of
the northern colony heretofore granted,
10 be planted by divers of our loving sub
jects in the north parts OF Virginia To
have and TO hold, etc. 1Stit. =, Va, APP
pcndix No. 81
Hon. Henry A. Wise D. c. DeJarnette
and William Watts Commissioners on
The part of Virginia. 1872 to settle boun-
dairy line between Virginia and Maryland
(see report. p. 30, In referen &c to the pre-
ceding grants. say;
Il. The grants speak by lines of lati-
tudc by extent OF measurement by miles,
and not by natural objects. such as
places rivers. &c. except as TO the initial
points OF James city and Cape Comfort.
-. They gave no course of lines ex-
initial poit. and west and northwest from
sea 10 sea. and this applies To the terri
DRY granted. and not TO the ines by which
4 was bounded: for the first grant WAS
made before the discovery of the terri
cry. and he second enlarged merely the
irst.
20 ThA arst grant ayerlauocd The tarxi- j