Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-07-12
WANTS TO ADD To TERRITORY
or tho Carolinas-Tcnncssc Ralkcs
Through Some Old Records.

Raleigh, n. c., July 6.-Tho Caro-
linas have a good friend out in Mem
phis, Tom, who Is claiming for us
all that territory west to tho Pacific
ocean between the 31st parallel Of
latitude and the seth.
lie thinks that by going to law
Raleigh or Columbia could become
the capital Of about half the United
States, drawing in a dozen or more
states through the row Of common,
wcalths between the 31st and seth
parallels Of latitude and including
part Of California.
lie has been looking up some old
grants and western titles generally,
ard he discovers that these boundar-
les. set out In the original grants to
Carolina colony by the English gov
ernment back in the colonial days,
have not been changed with the Or
ganization Of States or through sta
tutory enactments.
The godd friend, who writes At
torney General Manning, sees in the
Institution Of suit by Arkansas, in
volving litigation over boundaries
and the title to certain lands, bud
ding opportunity for North and
South Carolina to jump In and grab
the whole business. His letter sets
forth fully his contentious, and reads
as follows:
Vast Territory Involved.
"The States Of North and South
Carolina are the owneres Of all that
tract Of country west OF the Missis-
sippi river, bounded between the 31st
parallel Of northern latitude, bound
cd OH the west by the Pacific ocean
and the Gulf Of California. This in-
formation l have had OH investiga-
tion OF Spanish grants and western
titles generally. but not until this
time had l considered it opportune
TO assert this title.
"The state Of Arkansas is now pre-
pairing suit to file in the Supreme
Court Of the United States. which
Involves L litigation over boundaries
and the title to certain lands. against
the States OF Oklahoma and Texas.
also asking the fixing of boundaries
between the involved territory and
,hc Mexican States: and reached
the conclusion that it is emincntly
worth while that the States Of North
and South Carolina intervene in this
law suit and assert the title which
| have mentioned, thus bringing a
small portion OF their rights to lands
which | have mentioned for deter
mination--which would control any
future litigation for lands in the
same territory, unless the risk would
be too great OF barring further liti-
cation upon the parts of the States
OF North and South Carolina for the
recovery Of lands which could have
been litigated in this Intervening
suit.
How Titlc Acquired.
The States of North and South
Carolina acquired their title by the
grant OF the English government to
the Carolina colony, which is a pro-
prietary or fee simple title TO the col
ony. successors and assigns. You
will also find that the boundaries Of
those States now limit their rights
to public domain as provided in this
original grant mentioned. You will
also concur with me that no statute
Of limitation can be invoked by one
sovereign against another, and that
the rights OF sovereignty between
the States Of North America was re-
served as early as the federation Of
the colonies and brought forward in
the organization Of our States"
The writer signs himself f. l..
Bates. The letter has been placed in
the files Of the North Carolina Attor-
ney General.
J. 'Inp Il In1. a