Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-01-27
MILLIONS DUE
OLD DOMINION
VAST AMOUNT GROWING OUT or
CESsION OF WESTERN LANDS
GOVERNOR GIVES FACTS
CondiuonsAttaehcd to Conveyance by
Virginia 10 Federal Government
Of Lands on Western Borders
Not Complied With-Mes-
SAGE 90 Legislature.

RICHMOND. VA-Spec ial-Accord- I
ng 90 the matters related by Cover /
nor Swanson in a message transmitted /
TO the Legislature on January oath. |
To- would appear that Virginia. thc
Mother OF States. as well as OF states /
men. did not part with her vast land
% possessions in the West. except foI
saluable confederation. which valua-
BILE consideration the vendee. the Fed
eral Government. has up 90 the pres
emit time failed TO pay. The amount
now due Virginia runs up into the
ems OF millions OF dollars. invCIvinE
the cesslon OF the lands contained in
he States OF Ohio. Indiana. Illinois
Michigan and Wisconsin. and a portion
90 Minnesota. liz is highly probahl.
the present stature viii take some
action lCok 90 the recovery of this
asst sum 90 the Old Dominion.
The Governors message follows.
To the General Assembly OF Virginia.
Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
zion Hen. J. ID. Eggleston. and Dr.
Robert B Fulton, superintendent Of
the Miller school have called % my
attention "a large claim which the State
~ Virginia has against the Federal
Government arising from the cession
10 the United States OF the vast ter
.itory once possessed by this Con-
non wealth north OF the Ohio river.
DR. Fulton has. az the request of Su-
1erintendent EEgleston and myself
+ FOR some tine been making a thorough
Investigation Of this matter. and has
compiled q complete and detailed
statement of this claim. which appears
/ 90 establish IT'S justice and legality,
T and imposes upon me the duty OF
. An
T obtained by him 90 you for considera-
+ tiou and action
Prominent VirEinians. including
. Commodore Maury and Superintend-
emit % Public Instruction, DIT. William
+ r. Rurner. have presented iu writings
and reports this claim OF the stat,
/ of Virginia.
/ Succinctly stated. the claim present
cd Is as follows:
The vast territory north OF IA,
Ohio river was included ia Virginia.
original charter CT 1909. which char
ter was prior 20 the charter OF othe
States. and which territory was en-
cluded in the boundaries OF Virginia
when she asserted her independents
and organized her government as
sovereign State in 1876. This terri
. tory ln addition 90 being Virginia
. .H Aaaa NNA IAHANrH ANA anne AEaH AAr
% ly conquest. since 10 was cCnQuere
from the British by Virginia troop.
commissioned by the Governor an
Council of Virginia. The expenses Oh
. CURED by these troops in this cor
10 quest were paid out OF the treasur
= % this Commonwealth. Virginia va
u in actual pCssessi ion and control
Z This territory until her cessiCn 10 tl
+ federal Government Prior 20 III
j. ession this territory was organize
BE- ls the county OF Illinois. and held
b. part az the state Thus. by cha
i Ter rights. by conquest and by actu
possession this territory coded col
D.. diluted "a part OF Virginia The fla
r. rat the United States Goverume
.- derived title 20 this territory By ce
o ION and deed az conveyance ma.
By Virginia 90 the United States Co
rnmeut has been clearly and 81.
. lrCfly recCgriz hv the Suprer
ourr 90 the United States in the ca
.f ~HardleEs I.essees VS. Anthem
i. 9TH Wheaton. page 3Tf" In Cd
d, ase fre opinion M which was re
d. Tered bv Chief Justice Marshall c
court decided. FRI fixing the bomda
o. lines between tle State OF KeutuC
q and rhe State Cf Indiana, that Q
IS boundary line of Indiana must be &
~ -ermned by The C.ssion made by {
State or Virginia to rhe United STA,
,,. Government and rhe terms and liml
- tious contained in that Cession. sin
ed the title OF the United States 70
re territory was derived from this G.
e. sion OF the State OF Virginia. y
opinion OF this court was further s.
nd tanned by the General Court OF v
- ginia in the case of "COmmOnwea
40 vs.. Garner. Sd Grattan. page IS
N Thus the prior rights OF Virginia
"a this territory has been judicially
TX termined.
he In the act OF Virginia making
IS cessiOn OF this large territory 10
United States and In the deed Of C.
ne. veyance IN pursuance OF the act
vim the General Assembly, executed
nal her Representatives in the Contin
70 tai Congress. Thomas Jefferson. 81
- uel Hardy. Arthur Lee and Jar
~ Monroe, according 10 her directiC
are we're contained certain cOnditiC
tu- which conditions the Federal Cove
sf. ment accepted.
Among the conditions thus enuu