The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-25

idlu,l pennsylvania, NOTtn ana SOuln
Carolina. At this time the western
boundary was the Mississippi River.
Actings under instructions FROM the
Governor and Council OF Virginia.
dated January 2. 177s, George Rogers
Clark. in command of Virginia troops.
put in the field by Virginia. in 1878
and 1919. captured all the British posts
in the territory northwest OF the Ohio,
excepting those in the extreme North
on the Great Lakes. and held the
territory from the Ohio to the Lakes
in the States name.
Thrcc-Fold Claim.
Thus 1t will be seen that all this
territory belonged to Virginia from
three standpoints-by charter right.
by conquest and by actual possession.
When the time for confederation
came, some of the smaller States, not
ably Maryland. refused TO come in
until those States holding or claim
Ing western territory should make
q surrender of these lands to the
United States. After much discussion
of this point. Virginia submitted a
proposition for the cession OF these
Western lands. which was received and
accepted by Congress. In this act.
executed by Virginia's representatives
in the Continental Congress-Thoma
Jefferson. Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee
and James Monroe-there were GER
tain conditions. These were six I'm
| number.
1t is noteworthy here that five OF
these conditions were fully and punc-
tually observed by the United States.
while the sixth, upon which the pres
ent claim rests, was violated For
instance, one provision was that the
territory coded should be laid out and
1ormei into States. not less than 100
nor more than $50 miles square, When
II was found that this stipulation was
undesirable, a petition was sent to the
General Assembly of Virginia, asking
for permission to change these boun-
daries Thus the validity OF the act
OF cession was again recognized.
Was for Common Use.
The condition which has been VIC.
lated was as follows:
That all the land within the terri.
tory SO coded to the United States and
not reserved for or appropriated to
any OF the before mentioned purposes.
or disposed of in bounties to the off,
GERS and soldiers of the American
army, shall be considered as common
fund for the use and benefit of such
or shall become members of the Con-
federation or Federal Alliance of the
said States. Virginia Inclusive, accord
ing to their usual respective proper
tons in the general charge and expen-
diture, and shall be faithfully and
bona fide disposed of for that purpose
and for no other use or purpose what
soever."
AS to the fuliment of this last and
most important of the conditions and
engagements in Yirginia's act of ces-
sion, 1t appears from all the history
and record of this matter that Vir-
ginia. through no fault of hers, has
entirely failed to receive her due and
proportionafe share of the use and ben
| eft of these lands in the territory
| northwest of the River Ohio, as dis
| tinctly provided and reserved in her
deed OF cession Out of this territory
ceded by Virginia were formed the
States of Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Mich
igan. Wisconsin and part of N1inne-
sofa The United States received by
this cession 170,20S,623 acres of land.
One-Fifth Diverted.
| 1t now appears that moro than one
/ fifth part of the lands coded by Vir-
ginia under definite proviso and condi-
| lions reserving to Virginia an interest
I o
! that gave no use" or benefit" to Nir-
| ginia. having been donated by Con-
| gress to local interests. A statement
| of the lands wrongfully diverted Is
| made in the paper submitted by DIR.
| Fulton. 1t appears that total Of
| 3S,S6S,212 acres of land and $2.953.654
| 10, derived from the sale of lands, were
| devoted entirely to local uses. These
| amounts were appropriated for local
| school purposes, construction OF ca
nails, Improvement OF local roads and
other such purposes.
The value of this land donated to
local uses. computed AT So an acre. the
| price fixed by Congress when it was
! first offered for sale, would be $17,-
/ 736.424 This added to the cash re-
ccived by the government from the Gale
OF land would make the total value of
4 the donation for local purposes, clearly
contrary. 1t is claimed, TO the terms
| and provisions Of cession, amount TO
SO.600,O7S. !,
How much Virginia's claim Is would
have to be determined after searching
Investigation and calculation. A part
of the claim might vest In NenlucKy
and West Virginia, then a part OF Nir-
GINA. AT the most, this State could
| not claim more than seventh or the
ss0,Oo0,ooO, for at the time of the cess
sion she had one-seventh OF the wealth
of the nation. Perhaps Sl20Oo,oot
might be the share OF this State. u
| any sort of interest at all is allowed
1t would be great deal more.
Referred to Assembly.
The Governors recommendations II
! the premises were as follows:
II commend to your. most careful
| consideration the very valuble and in
terestng history OF this transaction
| and the claims of the State of Virginia
upon the Federal government which
have been so industrlously and care
| fully complied by Or. Fulton, have
md no opportunity to make careful
personal examination Of the statements lts
| contained in the documents submltten
~ me: hence recommend that the
General Assembly of Virginia refer 'his
SIMPLE REMEDY FOR KIDNEYS
a very simple and highly recon- n