L I N E
BO U N D A R Y
B
E TW EE N
THE
STA TE S OF
M A R Y L A N D A ND V R G I N I A
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and
B OU N D A R Y
T HE ST A T E S O F
BET W E E N
V i rgi n i a
b th e
Honora ble
v eray rela ting to
la n d
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la n d
ma tter of c on tro
in th e
f
th e d ivid ing line between th e Sta tes
V irgin ia
.
o
M
a ry
.
Th e a rbi trators are to a scertai n an d d etermi n e th e t ru e
li n e o f b o u n d a ry b e t ween th e States o f Ma rylan d an d Vi r
gi n ia : p r o vi d ed t h a t n eith er o f th e sai d S t ates n o r t h e
c i t i z en s t h ereo f sh al l b y th e d eci sio n o f th e ar b i trat o rs b e
d epri ved o f an y Of t h e rig h ts an d pri vil eges en u m er a t ed
a n d set for t h i n t h e c om p a ct b et w een t h e m en tered i n t o i n
th e y ear 1 7 8 5 b u t th at th e sam e shal l re m ai n to an d b e
e nj oy ed by t h e s a id States an d th e citiz en s th ereo f for ever
I t wil l b e n ecessary th erefo re a fte r t h e ci r c u m stan ces
w hich p re c eded t h i s com pact h ave been e x pl ai n ed t o a s c e r
tai n w h at i s s ettl ed by it an d w hat rem ai n s for adj u stm en t
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ON
BOU N D AR Y
POTOM A C R I V E R
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Maryl a n d cl ai m s to o u st Vi rgin ia fro m th e s o u th ern sid e
of t h e Pot o m ac b y m aki n g good h er e x cl u si v e titl e to th e
river t o l ow w a t er m ark o n t h e s o u th ern sh ore d ow n th e
wh ol e co u rs e o f th e ri ver ( or so m u ch of i t as i s l eft to
Vi rgi n i a by h er recen t dis m emb erm en t ) to S m ith s Poi n t
wh i c h i s i ts s o u t h p oi n t Th e gro u n d s o f cl ai m are t w o :
sh e i s en ti
l s t Th at by h e r ch arte r ( 2 0 th J u n e
t l e d to a l i n e :
passin g from th e sai d b ay cal l ed D ela
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4
”
wa re bay , i n a righ t lin e , by th e d egree afor esai d ,
f
fi
u
n
to
th
e
t
ru
e
m
eri
dian
th
e
rst
f
ou
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tai
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e
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0
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o
)
,
(
ri ve r o f Pa ttoma c k ; th en ce v erging toward s th e s outh ,
u n to th e fu rth er ban k of th e sai d ri ver an d fol l owin g th e
sam e o n th e w est an d so u th u n to a certai n place cal led Cin
a c k s i tu ate n ear th e m ou th o f th e sai d river wh ere i t
u
q
”
disemb ogu es i n to th e a foresai d b ay o f Ch esap eake
En g
lish tran sl ati o n i n B aco n s L aws o f M aryl an d 2 n d T hat
th erefore Maryl an d h as th e righ t to h a v e th e l i n e a s s h e n ow
c la ims i t adj u dged t o h er
A n d i t i s cl ear th at u n l ess th i s ex cl u si ve c l ai m t o th e
ri v er b e m ad e good Maryl an d can n ot co me to S m i t h s
Poi n t an d fail s to esta b l ish i t as th e p oi n t from wh ich h er
l in e ru n s across th e b ay to i ts easter n sh or e
Vi rgi n i a o n h er p a rt d en i es b oth o f th ese p rop ositi on s
an d i n si sts t h at sh e i s en ti tl ed u n der h er ch arter of t h e y ear
1 60 9 to th e w h ol e river Poto mac to its l ow water m ar k o n
i ts n orth ern sh o re d ow n to Poi n t Loo k o u t wh i ch i s th e
n ort h p o i n t o f th e ri ver s u bj ect to t h e li n e o f t h e n ew State
of W est Vi rgi n i a ; o r th at sh e i s en t itl ed to enj oy th e ri v er
to th e mi dd l e O f th e strea m th ro ugh its w h ol e cou rse b e
tw ee n th e two Sta tes
TO repel th e clai m of Mary l an d an d i n su pp or t o f h er
o w n Vi rgi n ia i n sists o n th e fol l owi ng propositi on s :
1
Th e Maryl an d charte r i s i n i ts term s vagu e ob scu re
an d op en to s everal di fferen t c o n stru c tion s as wil l b e s h own
If t h e sen s e n ow assu m e d for i t can b e d ed u ced fro m its
l an gu age i t was n ot so u n d erstoo d by th e ki n g th e gran tor ;
an d proceedi n g as i t does o n fal se su ggestion o r mi s i n fo r
m atio n that p art o f i t i s v o i d Bl ac C o m B 2 3 4 8 ; Pe n n
B al tim o re 1 Ves S r 4 5 2 Fo r l s t S u ch con stru ction
con tradicts th e d ecl ared i n ten t t hat t h e n ew ly -c reated p ro
vi n ce sh al l not h en ceforth b e h el d or rep u ted a m emb er
o r p art o f th e lan d of Vi rgini a
o r of any ot h er c ol ony
”
al rea d y tran sp orted o r h ereafter to b e tran sported
fro m w h ich w e do s eparate both th e sai d p rovi n ce a n d
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th e i n h abitan ts th ereo f a n d b y th ese p rese n ts d o w il l to
”
b e disti n ct
S e c 2 1 2 n d It con tradicts th e p u rpos e
d e c l a red i n th e g ran t to p e o pl e an d c ivi li z e a re g i on
hi th erto u n cu lti vated i n t h e p arts o f A meric a an d p artly
occ u pi ed b y s avages h avi n g n o k n owl edge of th e d i vin e
”
b ei ng , a p oi n t u rg ed with e ffect a g ai n st thi s ch arte r
b y Pen n i n h is co n tro v ersy wi th L o rd Bal t i m ore a b ou t
th e c o u n try n ow th e Sta t e of D el aware b u t o r igi n ally em
b ra c ed as th e latte r con ten d ed i n h i s gran t 3 rd I t w as
plai nly agai n st th e i n terest o f th e k in g s re ve n u es —M is c e l l
p 1 No 44 N O 4 6 ; p 1 0 N o 3 3 4 th I t w o u ld h av e
b ee n a g ai n st th os e p ri n ci pl es o f reas o n h u m an i ty an d me
wh ich make p u b l i c l aw Th e ri v e r i s th e great
c e s s i ty
h igh way whi ch P rovid en ce h as establ i sh e d al o ng th e terri
to ry o n th e sou th ern b a n k i n its w h ol e exten t fo r th os e
wh o th e n h el d i t a n d th e gen e ration s to fol l ow ; its u se fo r
n avigatio n an d a cc ess t o th e s ea for mil l -si tes fo r m a n u fa c
tori es fo r i rri g a t i on fo r t h e s u sten an ce of m en an d cattl e
an d c ou n tl ess oth er n e c essary p u rp oses was i n di sp en sabl e
”
fo r its enj oy m en t
id s in e q ua res u ti n on p ota il
2
Vi rgi n ia was t h e eld e r col ony
Her charter em
b r a ced al l th e territory afte rward s g ran ted a s M aryl an d
i n c l u di n g Ch esap eak e Bay an d al l i ts trib u tari es th e PO
t o m ac i n cl u d ed 1 He min g s Statu tes at Large p 8 8
6
Th e gran t by th e s o v ereig n p rop ri eto r o f th e wh ol e terri
tory of th e part o n th e n orth ern sh ore of th e ri v er retai n ed
th e ri v er i t s el f as parcel o f th e reser v ed dom ai n Th e
ri v er th ereby b ecam e at l o w w ater m ar k th e b o u n dary of
th e n ewly created Stat e ; or th e op erat i o n of th e gran t w as
to en titl e th e col on y an d th e p ro vi n c e to h ol d th e ri v e r
”
a d jib/ m mediu m a a te
H u n dl ey s L essee 0 A n th on y
g
W h eaton s E l em en ts ( La w ren ce ) 2 5 2
5 W h eat R 3 7 4
8 & e nt s Com 5 4 7 ( 2 d ed it )
Un d er th i s i n terp retati o n Vi rg i n i a retai n ed th e excl u si v e
possessio n an d j u risdicti o n of th e so u th ern sh ore w hich sh e
h el d b efore M aryla n d was c rea ted an d w hi ch sh e h as
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6
n ot o ri ou sly h el d an d exercised e v er si n ce w i th th e assen t
ap p ro v al an d acqu i esce n ce of th e C r o w n o f t h e s u cc essi ve
p ropri etary go v ern m en ts of Maryl an d an d of Maryl an d
sin ce sh e h as b een a S tate n otwith stan di ng h e r p ap er
resol v es to th e co n trary
F o r p roof as to th e & i n g : M i sc e l l p 4 9—
5 2 X As to th e
p rop ri etary govern m en ts of Mary l an d s ee th e s evera l l aw s
re c ti n
n th e n orth ern sh o re b ou n di ng th em
h
er
co
u
n
ties
o
g
by th e ri ver
From a n d after th e 2 3 d of A p ril 1 6 7 6 th e
b ou n ds of S t Mary s co u n ty sh al l b egi n at Poi n t L ooko u t
an d ex te n d itsel f u p Powto wm a c k Ri ver to th e l ow er sid e
”
an d so as to oth e r river cou n ti es
&c
o f B ird s Cree k
By th e esta b l ish m en t of p orts o f en try o n th e Mar yl an d
sid e an d th e fai lu re to establ ish th em o n th e Vi rgi n ia si d e
B ac o n s L aws O n th e Vi rgi n i a si d e Nor t h u m b e rl an d
o pp o s ite St Mary s i s m en tion ed i n th e Vi rgin i a l aws
u n d er th e n am e O f C h i c a wa n e a lia s North u m b erl a n d as
h a v i n g b ee n settl e d an d as l iabl e fo r ta x es i n a rrear i n
1 64 6 a n d as en titl ed to represen tati o n i n th e Ass embly i n
In 1 65 3 W estmorel an d was
1 Hon i n g 3 3 7 3 5 2
1 64 8
l ai d o ff ab o v e fro m a n am ed ri ve r
an d so u p wards t o
”
th e fal l s of th e great ri v er o f Po to ma k e Id 3 8 1 Sta f
fo rd was l ai d O ff ab ove W estmorelan d o n th e ri ve r so m e
y ears l ater 2 Id 2 3 9 Th es e are th e
th ree co u n ti es
”
lyi ng al on g th e sh ore of th at ri v er m en ti o n ed i n th e re
mon stran ce to th e & ing
agai n st Lo rd B alti mor e s
al l eged u su rp ation s Mis p 4 8
In 1 661 —2 Vi rgi n i a p ass ed a l aw agai n st evasio n s o f th e
t ob a c c o d u ty by th e p eopl e of Nort h u m b erl an d an d W est
m orel an d by r easo n of sh ips comi n g i n to th e P oto m ac
an d an ch orin g i n L ord B al ti m ore s d om in i on s
w h en c e
th e y s en d th eir sloop s an d b o ats to fe tc h th e to b a cc o m ad e
”
2
i n thi s cou n try w i t h ou t p ayi n g th e sai d i mpositio n
H en i n g 1 3 2
No qu esti on i s m ad e th at Vi rgi n i a gran ted th e l an ds o n
th e sou th er n sh or e of th e ri v er as h er settl emen ts exte n ded
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7
p wards from th e sou th p oin t of th e ri v er wh ere th ey com
m e n c e d In 1 65 0 ( M arch 1 8 ) Si r W i lliam Be rk e l ey th c Go v
e rn or O fV i rgi n i a gran ted S mit h s Po in t ( 5 2 9 acres ) t h e so u th
p oi n t of th e ri ve r ( whi ch M a ryl an d n ow cl aim s t o have
th e n b el onged to h er u p to h igh water mark ) to Sa m u el
S mith Ma ryl an d statem en t p 5 9 Th ere was n o reserv a
ti o n o r a ll u si o n to any supp ose d righ ts o f Maryl an d A t
an early p eriod i t w as d e c lared to h av e b een esta b l i sh ed as
p art O f th e l an d l aw th at every m an s r i gh t by virtu e of
h is patten t exten ds i n to th e ri vers or c re ek e s s o farre as
l o w water m arke an d it i s a pri vi l edge gran ted h i m i n an d
”
by h i s patten t
A n d th is r i gh t
2 H en i n g 4 5 6
w as e nj oy ed by th e riparian o w n ers on th e s ou th ern sh ore
u n i v ersal ly an d as wi l l b e s ee n i s recogn i z ed as an exist
in g righ t i n th e com pact o f 1 7 8 5
Vi rgi n i a d u ri n g th e col on ial p er i o d an d after w ards e x
e rc i s e d th e righ t o f estab li shi n g ferri es o v er th e Potomac
ri ver from sh ore to sh o re S ee M a c D o n al d s Repo rt i n
”
Re p o r t s Relati ve to th e B o u n dary Li n e p p 3 9 —4 3 It
a p p ears that b e fore th e date Of th e compact of 1 7 8 5 as
man y as twe n ty -ei gh t ferri es som e b el o w so m e abo ve ti d e
h ad b een establ ish ed by th e ex cl u si ve au th ority o f Vi r
gi ni a from h er s h ore o ver th e river an d n o n e by Maryl an d ;
an d after th e com p act th e sam e ex ercise of j u risdicti o n
was con ti n u ed
In 1 7 8 4 th e L egi sl atu res o f th e two S tates by sim ilar
l aw s conj oi n tly i n c or p orate d th e P otom ac Compa n y to
im p rove t h e ri ver by th e exten sio n of th e n a v igati o n from
tid ewater to th e high est pl ac e practi cabl e i n t h e North
”
B ra n c h
T h e Vi rg i n i a law i s i n 1 1 Hen in g 5 1 0 It h as
th e re c i tal an d wh ereas i t m ay b e n e cessary to c u t can al s
an d ere c t l o c k s an d o t h er w orks o n b ot h sid es of th e r i ver
an d th e Legisl atu res o f Maryl an d an d Vi rg in i a i m p ress e d
wi t h th e i mportan ce o f th e o bj ect ar e d esi rou s o f e n c o u r
”
agi n g so u s e fu l a h u n dertakin g ; an d th e e nactmen ts o f
th e l a w c on for m w ith th i s avow ed pu rp ose Th is was an
u
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8
i n dep en d en t act of l egisl ati o n by V i rgini a o v er th e wh ol e
s ou th ern shor e ab ove th e ti d e wi t h o u t referen ce to any
su pposed righ t o r i n terest o f Maryl an d i n i t an d h ad h er
sol em n asse nt
In 1 8 0 2 ( 1 R C 1 8 1 9 ch 1 4 p
Vir g in i a ceded to
t h e Un i ted S tates j u risdictio n o ver s o m u c h o f th e l an d s
lyi ng o n S mi th s P o i n t i n No rth u m b erl an d cou n ty as migh t
b e n ecessary for th e erecti o n o f a l igh t -h ou s e an d th e ap
u rte n a n t b u i l di ngs th ereto o n th e said Poi n t wh i ch cessio n
p
was acc epted by th e Un i ted S tates an d a light -h o u s e w as
b u ilt an d h as b ee n m ai n tai n ed at th e Po i n t by a pu b li e
app rop riati o n In 1 8 2 8 ( S essio n A cts p
sh e au th or
i z e d th e U n ite d S tates to p u rch as e from th e p ropri etors of
th e l an d lyi n g i n or a dj oi n i ng S mith s Poi n t so m u ch l an d
as m igh t b e n ecessar y for th e p u rp os e of reb u il d in g th e
light -h ou s e al terin g th e site th ereo f an d for th e erectio n o f
oth er n ecessary b u ildi ngs Th is was d on e a n d p ai d fo r
by p u b l i c app rop ri ati o n ; n o o bj ecti on h av i n g b een i n t er
p osed by M aryl an d o u th e g ro u n d of righ t of soil o r j u ri s
dicti o n A n d it was p ro vi d ed that sh o u l d th e l igh t-h ou s e
b e discon tin u ed th e j u risd i c ti o n th ereby v e sted i n th e
Un ited S tates sh o ul d re v ert to Vi rgi n i a
Un d er t h i s h ead m ay be m en ti o n ed
3 P u bl i c Histo ry
b oo k s an d ch ron i cl es of p u bli c h isto ry as p artaki n g i n
so m e d egree of th e n atu re of p ubl i c d oc u m en ts an d b ei ng
e n ti tl ed o n t h e sam e p ri n cipl es to a g reat d e g ree of p u bli c
A ny approved an d ge n eral h i story t h erefo re i s
c redit
ad mi ssibl e to p rove an ci e n t fa c ts of a pu b l i c n atu re an d th e
g en eral u sages an d cu stom s o f a cou n try B u t i n regard to
m atters n ot of a p u bl i c an d gen eral n atu re su ch as th e c u s
to m of a p arti cu l ar town a d esce nt th e n at u re o f a parti
c u l a r abb ey th e b o u n dari es o f a c ou n ty an d th e l i k e th ey
”
Green l eaf o n E vi d en ce S 4 9 7 ; M or
a re n ot adm issibl e
riss v L essee of Harm er s Heirs 7 P e t ers 5 58 - 9 : B everl ey s
Histo ry o f Virgi n i a B ook 1
B ook 2 2
5 6—5 7 ( p
edit
Histoire
d
e
l
a
Vi
r
in
ie
A
A
m
ster
a
1
1
m
9
d
(p ) (
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9
—c h
3 —5
p
T
h
e
Prese
t
S
tate
o
f
Vi
rgi
n
i
a
n
(
by Hugh J on es c h apl ai n o f th e h on ora b l e Assem b ly an d
l ately mi n i ste r o f J am estow n i n Vi r g i n i a ( 1 7 24 ) p 2 4
Sa
b
i
n
s
Rep
ri
n
ts
T
h
e
Hi
story
o f th e B ritis h Pl an tati on s
;
(
)
i n A m erica by Si r W m & eith B ar t p 1 4 2 ( Lon don
A n A c co u n t Of th e Eu ro p ean S ettl em en ts i n A m e
ri c a ch 1 8 ( p
A n In trod u cti on to th e Hi story of th e
Revol t of t h e A m eri can Col o ni es Ch al m ers 1 p 61 62
( S abi n s Rep ri n ts ) Marsh al l A m erican C ol on i es ; Ban croft
1 2 4 3 ; G rah am 1 V 3 0 2
4 Th e gran t by Ch arl es th e S eco n d to L o rd Hopto n an d
o th ers mad e wh il e an ex i l e i n th e fi rs t y ear of h is reign as
h e cou n ted i t from h i s fath er s d eath J an 3 0 th 1 649 In May
1 667 after h i s restorati on th at g ran t h avi ng b een su rren d er
ed th at i t m igh t b e ren ewe d w ith al terat i on s Ch arl es gran ted
th e sam e t err i to ry to th e Earl of S t Alban s an d oth ers :
al l th at en ti re tract territory or parcel of l an d si t u ate
lyi n g an d b ei n g i n A m eri ca an d b ou n d ed w i thi n th e h ead
of th e ri vers of Ta ppa h a n o c k alias R a ppah an n oc k a n d
Q u i ri ou gh o r Pa ttaw e me e k ri v ers th e cou rses o f th e sai d
ri vers as th ey a re co m m on ly call ed o r k n ow n e by th e i n h a b
i ta n ts an d d escri p ti o n o f th os e p arts an d C h e s ape q o c k e
b ay t o geth e r wi t h th e ri vers th em sel ves an d a ll th e isl a n ds
wi th i n th e b an k es o f th o s e ri vers an d th e ri v ers t h em
”
sel ves
Afterwards T h o m as L o rd C ul peper h a v in g p u r
ch a s ed th e t erri tory wh o w as th ereby b ecom e s o l e ow n er
”
a n d pr o p ri eto r th e re o fi n fee si mpl e J am es th e S econ d by
p aten t co n fi rm ed t h e sam e to hi m i n fee si mpl e B u t th es e
paten t s th o ugh th ey g av e ampl e u se a n d enj oy m en t o f th e
territory an d p ower to ma k e gran ts of th e sam e reserved
to th e Go vern o r C o u n cil an d A ssembly o f Vi rgin i a t h e
e x cl u si ve a uth o rity i n a ll th e m il itary con cern s o f t h e
gran ted territory an d th e p ow e rto i m p os e ta x es on t h e
p ers o n s an d p rop erty Of i ts i nh abi tan ts for th e public an d
c om mo n d efen ce o f th e col ony as wel l as a gen eral j u ris
1
1
2
7
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10
dictio n over th em th ei r h eirs an d ass ig n s an d a l l oth e r 1 n
h abitan ts Of th e sai d territory
Th i s g reat pro p erty cam e aft e rward s to Th om as Lord
Fai rfax as h eir of Lord C ul p ep er In i t s u pp er p arts i t
l o ng remai n ed u n e x pl ored ; b u t a b ou t 1 7 3 6 d isp u tes h avi n g
ari se n b et w ee n Lord Fa i rfax an d th e C o l on i al Govern m en t
con cerni ng th e b o u n d aries at th e h ead s of th e ri vers gi vi n g
ris e to con &ic t in g gran ts a fru itl ess attempt w as m ad e to
settl e th e m atter by a b ou n dary c o m m i ssi on B u t i n 1 7 4 5
th e ki n g i n cou n cil o n t h e p etiti o n o f L ord Fai r fax an d
th e rep ort o f th e L o rds C ommi s s 1 0 n e rs of trad e an d pl a n ta
ti o n s d ecid ed th at t h e tru e b ou n dary Of Lord Fai r fa x s
gran t accordi n g to th e term s Of hi s p aten t b e g an at th e
h eadsp ri n g of th e sou th b ran ch o f th e R a ppah a n n o c k wh i ch
i s d ecl ared to b e th at b ran ch o f th e Rapidan cal l ed th e
Con w ay ; th en ce n orth w est i n a straigh t lin e to th e h ead
spring o f th at b ran c h o f th e P o tom a c c a ll ed t h e Cob o n go
ro o ta ; th e oth e r bou n daries b ei ng th e ri vers th em sel ves as
th ey ru n to th e Ch esap eak e
An a c t o f t h e Vi rgi n ia
Ass embly was passed i n 1 7 4 8 re c i ti n g th e a dj u stm en t o f
t h e bo u n d ary Of th e N o r t h ern Ne c k con fi rmi n g a l l p revio u s
g rants an d paten ts of th e C row n wi th i n th at te rrit o ry an d
t ran sferrin g th e qui tren ts a n d servi ces to L ord Fai rfa x
Ch an cery Paten t Rol l 2 1 Car II ( May 8
1 R ev
Cod e 1 8 1 9 c h 8 7 2 4 3 ( passed i n 1 7 3 6 i n wh ich th e p ate n ts
ar e re c ited ;) Id 1 V c h 7 0 3 4 9 ( passed i n
Id A p
W
4
M
i
sc
H
u
n
t
er
arti
n
h
eat
M
1
3
0
5
e n d i x 2 V 3 44—
;
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In 1 7 4 8 Lord Fai rfax Op en ed a l an d O ffi ce i n th e North
ern Neck an d con ti n u ed to gr a n t l an ds i n th i s territo ry
u n ti l hi s d eath i n 1 7 8 1 ; b u t at th e r evol u ti o n a ll quitre n ts
an d ser v ices fo r th e lan d s w e re ab oli sh ed an d th e records O I
h is o ffi ce w ere tran sferred to th e l an d o ffi ce at t h e seat of
go v ern me n t 1 R C c 9 1 3 50 He d i ed sei sed of
acres u ngra n te d , wh i ch b e d e v ised to an al ien wh o s e cap a
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11
ci ty to ta k e w as th e q u es t i o n i n Hu n ter Marti n ; b u t th e
d ispu te was fi n a lly com po sed a c cordin g to th e term s of a n
act of A ss em b ly 1 R C ch 9 2 3 5 2 Th u s t i tl e to th i s
territory b ecam e revested i n Vi rgi n ia an d u n i ted wi t h
j u risdicti o n o v er i t wh ich had n e v er b e en p a rted w ith
Lord Bal ti m o re s ub m itted to th e Hop ton Gran t an d hi s
s u ccesso rs h a v e su b m itted to wh at has b een don e i n pu r
M aryl an d
s u an c e o f i t with ou t m u rm u r o r rem o n stran c e
S tatem en t p 4 8 T h e c o n cl u sio n s to b e d rawn from t h es e
tran saction s are : 1 That th e ri ver d i d n ot pass an d was
n ot m ean t to pass by th e M aryl an d ch arte r O f 1 63 2 b u t
rem ain ed part o f th e reserved d oma i n of th e kin g 2 That
eve n if th ere b e e x p ressi o n s i n t h e ch arte r to th at e ffect of
w h i ch th e ki n g w as ad v ised th e gran t u n d e r th e facts an d
ci rcumstan ces o f th e c a s e a s t o th at part of i t i s w ithou t
e ffect
Th e disc repan ci es an d ob s c u
5 Th e M ary l an d Ch a rter
riti e s in th e s everal edi ti o n s Latin an d E ngl ish
as to th is
p ar t o f th e l i n e wi ll b e s een o n i n spection Lord B al ti
”
m o re gave h i s tran sl ati o n o f it i n h i s Rel at i on an d h as
m a rked t h e lin e an d its c o n t i n u ation h e cl a i m ed from Ci n
qu ac k across th e bay o n th e ac c o m panyi ng m ap It was
t hi s l i n e which h ad to b e aban d on ed wh en th e Cal vert an d
Sc a rb u rg l in e h e reafter m en tio n ed w as establish ed an d
w hi c h o r s o m ethin g l i k e it Mary l an d seeks to resto re
B u t h ow co m es t h e li n e o n th e b an k to C i n q u a c k th u s
m app ed t o b e s u bs titu ted n o w by th e l in e o f th e l ow -water
m ark to S m ith s Poi n t & In t h e Mary l an d Stat em en t
i t i s sai d th at i n th e compact o f 1 7 8 5 Mary l an d yi el ded
t h e li n e from C i n q u a c k an d accepted S mi th s P o i n t ( fi v e
o r si x m il es fu rth er n o rth ) as t h e startin g Of th e li n e across
”
th e b ay
B u t th e com pa ct as w il l b e seen s ettl e d n o
qu estio n of bou n d a ry o r p rop erty b ei n g o n its face a p ro
visio n al arran gem en t o f n avigatio n an d j u risdictio n T h e
l anguag e o f th e co mpact i s : Th e citizen s o f each State
resp ecti v ely sh al l h a v e fu l l p rop erty i n th e sh o res o f th e
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“
12
”
Pot o m ac ri ver a dj oi n in g th e i r l an ds
In ste a d of a re co g
n i t i o n of prop erty i n Maryl an d i n th e so ut h er n sho re sh e
gu aran tees th e p rop ert y of Vi rgi n i a i n th at sh o re an d
accepts Vi rgi n i a s g u aran tee of p rop erty i n h er o w n
M aryl an d mu st stan d o n h er ch arter o r aban d on i t No
mix ed cas e can b e m ad e o f a cal l for th e wh ol e ri ve r u n der
th e str i ngen t term s of h er ch a rter an d a ch an ge o f cl ai m o f
th e so uth er n ban k d ow n to C i n q u ac k for th e l ow -water li n e
to S m i th s P oi n t wh e n th e d i ffi cu l ty of m ai n tai n in g th e
ch arter l i n e is fel t
Th e l i n e i n e x pos i tl on of th e ch arter i s dotted on th is
ap
so as to i n cl u d e n o t th e ri ver p r o p er as n o w
cl ai m ed b u t on e of i ts trib u tari es ( th e presen t A cqu i a
c reek ) wh i ch S m ith n am ed Pa tome e k an d w h i ch m ay
h av e b een m ista k en for th e m ai n riv e r i tsel f whi c h h a d
n ot th en been e x pl o red T h e c ou n try t hro u g h wh i ch b y
”
th e ch arter th e l i n e was to v erge s o u th fro m th e 4 0 th
”
d egree i n sear c h of th e fu rth er ban k o f th e ri ver
b ei n g u nk n own th e l i n e as d otted i f c on ti n u ed w o u l d
h a v e c u t i n to th e h eart o f th e col ony ; so th e p rotrac t io n of
th e dotte d l in e fro m C in q u a c k across th e b ay to t h e s ea
evi n ces a l ik e am bitio u s d esign to attach to th e M arylan d
p rovin c e th e w h ol e riv er i n cl u di ng i ts m o u th O f a pi ece
w i t h this was th e procl am atio n o f H a r v ey G overn or of
Virgin ia i n 1 63 8 p ro cu red by L ord Bal ti more wh os e
p artisan h e w as d escribin g th e p rovin ce as extend in g
n o rth ward fro m th e ri v er W i c o n o w com m on ly cal l ed b y
th e n am e o f O n an cock o n th e easter n sid e o f th e Gran d
Bay of C h esap ea k e an d n ort h ward from th e river Ch in
qu ack cal l ed Great W ico mi co o n th e w estern sid e o f
”
th e sai d b ay
M aryl an d S tatem en t 1 5 ; In stru c tio n s
S ee B os ma n s History o f
37
id 1 9
M i s c el l p p 3 1 —
Maryl an d 2 V 7 3 n ote fro m w h i ch i t wou l d app ear th a t
th e lin e i n th is p rocl amatio n w as u n der m istake su pp os ed
to coi n ci d e w i t h th e 3 8 th d egree w h i ch w as ass u m ed to b e
th e b o u n d ary of M aryla n d o n th e b ay as w el l as o n t h e
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13
Eastern S h o re a n d i t i s s o m arked o n L o rd Bal ti more s
m ap B u t i t m ay b e safel y a ffi rm ed t h at n o t an i n c h O f
t h i s dotted li n e was eve r su pp o r t ed by o c c u pati on o r recog
n i ti o n by royal o r col on ial au th o rit y
’
,
.
,
.
T HE
C O M PA C T O F
1 785
.
Thi s co mpa c t i n c o n n e ctio n w i th th e su pp osed e on
ce s sio n s i n th e fi rs t C o n s titu ti o n of Vi rgi n ia i s m u c h
rel i ed on i n su p p o rt o f th e Maryl an d cl aim to th e Potom ac
a n d es p ecially t o Smi t h s Po i n t as a p oi n t i n h er b ou n dary
I t regu l ates pro vi si on al ly an d d u ri n g j oi n t pl e a su re of
t h e S t ates n avigatio n an d j u risdiction on th e Potom ac
ri ver a n d th e w ate rs o f th e C h e a s pe a k e bay an d th e
”
rive r Po c o m o k e i n t h e li mi ts of Vi rgi n ia an d n o m o re
Thi s app e a rs fro m th e te r ms of th e c om pact an d th e lan
gu a ge o f th e Maryl an d res o l u tio n app oi n ti n g com m ission
e rs t o m a k e i t Appen di x Maryl an d A cts v 7 Res No 1
Its restricted c h aracter resul ted n atu rally fro m wh at had
g o n e b e fo re
T h e dism emb erm en t o f Vi rgin i a by t h e
erectio n of th e col o n i es Maryl an d P en n sy l vani a an d
North an d S o u t h Carol i n a h ad b een a gro u n d of com
p l ai n t by th e el der col on y A t th e o u tset of th e struggl e
fo r i n d ep en d en ce Vi r g in ia a s a peace o fferi ng a n d to
al l ay an y p ossi b l e ap preh en si o n of terri torial cl ai ms o n
h er part agai n st th ose Sta t es rel ease d to th em al l righ t s
wh i c h m igh t h ave b ee n c l ai m ed by h er to t h e terri
tories wh i h sh e h ad l ost sti pul ati n g h ow ever i n th e
case o f Mary lan d wi t h wh o m th ere w ere Op en q u es
tio n s on th e s ubj e c t for th e fre e n avi g ati o n o f th e Poto
m ac an d Po k o m o k c ri vers an d h er p rop er t y i n t h e sh o res
Of th os e ri vers T hi s o ffer migh t h ave b een accep t ed by
Maryl an d h ad it sto o d al o n e B u t i t was co n n e c t ed with a
reser v ati o n by Vi rgi n i a Of h er w estern an d n orth e rn exten t
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14
as
fi x ed
by h e r ch arter m ean i n g h er territory n o rth west
T o th is reser v a ti o n Maryl a n d n eve r wo u l d
of t h e O h i o
acced e b u t staid ou t of th e con fed eratio n u n til th e cessio n
of th at territory to th e Un ite d S tates was m ad e S o sh e
rejecte d i n res en tfu l term s th e o v ertu res o f Vi r gin ia
i
Resol
u
ti
on
s
of
h
er
C
on
ven
tio
n
n 1776
D
ocu
m
en
ts
p
9
(
Hen in g v ol 1 0 553-5 64 M a rv l a n d Bi l l o f Rights N OV
1 7 7 6)
B u t th e cessi on h a vi n g b een mad e an d th e w ar su ccess
fully cl os ed t h i s irritati n g s ubj e c t co u l d b e app roach ed i n
a mo re con cil iato ry spi rit an d th e co m pact w h i ch s up er
s e d e d a l l qu esti on s o f b o u n dary an d ai m ed o n ly to sec u re
th e free an d com m o n u s e a n d n avigati o n of th es e w aters
w as i ts fru i t It recogn izes wh at was con ced ed t o e x ist
an d w ai ves o r p ostpo n es wh at was qu esti o n ed or d ispu t ed ;
whi ch i s th e key to its i n terp retatio n Th e wh ol e ri v er
Potom ac was i n disp u te Marylan d cl ai med u n d er h e r
ch arter th e wh ol e from its sou rce to i ts m o u th i n cl u di ng
th e soi l an d j u ri sdi c tio n of its so uth e rn b an k an d of th e
Vi rgi n i a sh ore i n No rth u m b erl an d c o u n ty t o W i c o mo c o
ri ve r ; whi l e Vi rgi n i a claim ed th e ri ver to its n o rth ern sh o re
d o w n to Poi n t L o o k o u t o r to th e m iddl e of th e stream ;
a n d a li n e th en ce across th e bay fro m o n e terminu s o r th e
other Maryl an d cl ai m ed to p rotract th e l i n e sh e c lai m ed
O n th e Po t o m ac over th e b ay to W atkin s Poi n t
The
so u th ern b o u n dary of M aryl an d o n t h e b ay was i n do u bt
A divisi on a l li n e had b een ru n b y au t h or i ty i n 1 668 fr o m
W at k i n s Poi n t to th e o c ean o ver Poco m ok e river by wh ich
a l l th e ri ver ab ove th e l i n e was given t o Maryl an d a n d a l l
”
b elow it fel l withi n th e l i mi ts of Vi rgi ni a ; b u t th e e x act
co u rse of thi s l i n e was i n d o u bt ; an d i t th u s a p p ears t h at as
th e u ppe r p art of th e ri ver b el on ged to Maryl an d an d th e
l o wer part co m m u n i c a ti n g w ith th e Ch esapeake b ay ( Po
c o mo k e so u n d ) b el o nged to Vi rgi n ia it was i mp ortan t to
s e c u re to th e u pp er i n h abi tan ts th e n avigati o n o f t h e l ow er
w aters A l l C h esapeake b ay fro m th e cap es to th e so ut h
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e
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16
”
with an y o f its citi z en s
A n d for th e b en e fi t o f th e u pp er
i nh ab itants o n th e ri ver P o c om o k e as fo r ot h er citi zen s o f
Maryl an d s h e agre es th at th e b efo re -m en ti on ed parts of
Ch esap eake bay an d P o co m o k e ri ver b e foreve r c o n si d ered
as a co mm on high way free for th e n avigati on of v essel s
”
fro m o n e p art of th e State O f Marylan d to an oth e r
Maryl an d o n h er p art a g rees th at vessel s b el on gi ng to Vi r
gi n i a o r h er citi z en s o r c a rryi n g o n co mm erce t o o r fro m
th e S tate o r wi th any of i ts ci tiz en s m ay freely e n ter th e
ri v ers o f Maryl an d as a h arb o r or for safety agai n st an
en emy wi th o u t th e p aym en t o f any p ort ch arge o r oth er
d u ty ; an d Vi rgi ni a i n th e fi rst clau s e recip rocates th i s
pri v il ege B ut Virgi n ia e x ten ds n othi n g to M aryl an d i n
th e waters o f Ch esapea k e b ay a n d Pocom oke ri v er withi n
”
th e l i m its o f Vi rgi ni a b eyon d th e righ t o f n avigati on ; n o
righ t Of p rop erty i n its sh ores ; n o righ t of fi sh e ry ; n o ex
em p ti on fro m p or t d u ti es an d oth er ch arg es
By th e ten th c lau s e j u ri sdi c ti o n i s p rovid ed fo r ove r t h e
Potom ac an d th e part o f Ch esa p ea k e b ay an d P o com o ke
river withi n th e l im i ts o f Vi rg i n i a ; an d as accordi ng to
th e sch em e of t h e co mpact w hi c h p retermi t s t h e m a t ter of
bo u n d ari es i t co ul d n ot b e assign ed b y territ o ri al l in es re
so rt w as h ad to t h e p l an o f gi vi n g j u risd icti o n over o ffen ces
co mm i tted i n th es e waters wh e t h er c ertai n o r d ou b tful as
to own ershi p to ea c h o r b o th states acc o rdi n g to th e citi
fen d er
z e n s h i p o f the O f
A n i d ea h as b een e x pressed su ggested i t w o u l d s eem
b y a strai n ed verb al c ri ti ci sm t h at t h e fram ers o f th e c o m
p a c t wh en th ey sp ea k i n th e ten t h sec t i on o f t h at p a rt of
th e b ay wh ere t h e li n e o f d i vision fro m th e sou t h p oi nt o f
Po to mac k ri ver ( n o w c a ll ed S mi t h s Poi n t) t o W at k i n s
”
Poi nt m ay b e d o u b tfu l are n ot m erel y affi rmi ng th at th e
par t o f th e b ay c rossed b y t hi s su p p osed l i n e ma y b e d o u b t
fu l as to o w n ers h ip b u t m ean b y t h is l an gu a g e t o s u b stitu te
S m ith s Poi n t fo r th e Cinq ua c k n am ed in th e Mary l an d
ix S mith s Poi n t i rre v ocably a s a p oi n t i n
c h arter , a n d to f
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17
th e M aryl a n d li n e B u t th at wou l d h av e b een a d epartu re
fro m t h e p e rsi sten t p u rpos e o f t h e compact Th ey m ean
o n ly to e x press th e sam e doubt as to t h at p art o f t h e b ay as
to i ts own ersh ip as th ey e x press i n regard to th at part o f
Pocom oke river wh ere th e l i n e of d ivisi on b etween th e
”
two States u pon th e sai d ri v er i s do ub t fu l
Th ey d ecl are
th at part of th e ba y d ou btful an d cou l d n o t m ean th at th e
asserted li n e o v er i t eith er as to termini o r directi on ap
Th ey m ake n o all u sio n to
pe are d to b e an d was certai n
Cinq u a c k an d m erely sp ea k o f th e n o rth p oi n t o f th e ri ver
”
—
by th e n am e it h ad acqu i red
n ow call ed S mith s Poin t
Co n cl u sion s : 1 Th at th e prop erty li n e on th e Potom ac
a n d from its m o u th to th e Easter n sh ore rem a i n s n u ad
j u sted 2 Part o f th e waters o f Ch esap eake b ay a n d part
of th e Pok omok e ri v er are e x cl u si v ely w i thi n th e l i mits
3 By th e Cal v ert an d Sc a rb u rg agree men t
o f Vi rgi n ia
a divi sio n al l i n e b etwe en th e States w as ru n o v er Poko
m o k e ri ver b u t th e li n e o f di v isi o n b etween th e t w o
”
S tates o n th at river was treated as d oub tfu l ( It i s m ad e
c l e a r by M i c h l e r s S u rvey )
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B O UN D A RY LINE O N THE E ASTERN S H O RE
A N D CHES APE A & E BA Y
.
Vi rgi n i a cl ai m s by th e l i n e fro m Ch esap eak e ba y to th e
sea as sh e i n si sts i t was establ i s h ed i n 1 668 by Cal vert an d
S c a r b orough ; an d as it app ears by t h e su rvey of M i c h l e r
m ad e u n d er th e j oi n t i n stru cti on s of th e com missi on ers of
th e two States L ee an d M c D o n al d i n 1 8 5 9 M i c h l e r s
Repo rt an d S u r v ey ; Cal vert
S carb orough Agreem en t
Maryl
an
d
statem
en
t
p
(
Th e b in di n g au th ori ty o f thi s agreem en t h as n e v er b een
disp u ted u n l ess th e p resen t cl ai m o f Mary l an d is to b e s o
i n terp reted : a l i n e from th e cen tre o f Cedar straits n ea r
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3
18
th e so u th er n en d of W at k i n s p oi n t ; th en ce by a righ t l i n e
”
to th e Atl an ti c ocean
T h e act of M ary l an d h o wever
wh i ch i n vi ted th i s i n vesti g ati on ( ch 3 8 5 March
wh il e i t i n sists on a n i n ter p retati on of th e agreem en t w h i ch
Vi rgi ni a co n tests d o es n ot d eny b u t di sti n ctly asserts i ts
au th or ity B u t th e agreem e n t was au th ori zed an d rati fi ed
by b oth col on i es an d app ro v ed b y th e kin g
1 T h e l in e as l ai d dow n by M i c h l e r an d i n si sted o n by
Vi rgi ni a con form s w ith th e l angu ag e o f th e agreem en t
W atki n s Poi n t b ei n g ascertai n e d to b e th e p oi n t of l an d
mad e by th e n orth sid e of Pocom oke b ay an d s ou th si d e of
”
A n n a me s s e x b ay
th e com mi ssi on ers s ay : we h a v e ru n
an east l i n e ag reeabl e w i th th e extrem est part of th e w est
”
e rn m o s t an gl e of th e sai d W atki n s Poi n t
over Poco
”
moke ri ver n ear Rob ert Hol s ton s an d over Swa n se c u te
”
c re ek i n to th e m arsh o f th e seasi d e
O m i ttin g fro m th e
passage qu oted th e words d escri p ti ve of ma rki ng th e li n e
n ear B ol sto n e h o u se an d atten din g to th e word s d e s c rip
ti v e of ru n n i n g th e l i n e ( th e tw o h av e n o n eces sary con
Th ey say
n e c ti o n ) th e sen s e i s too pl ai n to b e o b scu red
th ey h a ve run a l i n e — a o east li n e — over Poco mo k e r i ver to
th e l an d n ear Rob ert Hol s to n s agreeabl e with th at i s
w h i ch agrees con cu rs with th e extrem est p art o f th e
w estern m ost a n gl e Th e re co u l d b e n o reason for th i s
”
p arti cu l ar referen ce to th e e x trem es t part b u t to m ak e
i t th e b egi n n i ng p oi n t of th e l in e whi c h sh ou l d divid e th e
d i sp u ted te rrri tory Th e li n e i s d ecl ared t o ru n th rou gh
th e w h ol e from th e b ay t o th e sea ; an d i s to b e recei ved
as th e b ou n d s of Vi rgi ni a an d M arylan d o n th e eastern
”
sh ore of C h esapeake b ay
It i s th e mark ing of th e li n e
w h ich b egi n s east of th e ri ver a n d i s co n ti n u ed eastward
2 No oth er con stru ctio n i s c on sisten t wi th th e obj ect o f
th e com mission wh ich was to di vid e b etween th e col on ies
th e w h ol e eastern sh ore territ o ry lyi ng b etwee n th e b ay
an d th e ocean This territo ry wh ich h ad b e en th e s o l e
p rop erty of Virg i n ia , w as to b e di v id ed accordi n g to th e
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19
M ary l an d ch arter b y a rig/i t l in e d raw n fro m th e pro mo n
”
tory o r h e a d l e a d c al l e d W at k i n s Poi n t
b esi d e th e bay
aforesai d o n th e w est as fa r a s th e great o cean o n th e
”
e a st ; u p to w h i ch l i n e th e c o l oni es w o ul d th e n c eforth
h ol d resp ecti vely A li n e th rou gh th e w h ol e territory was
th ere fore i n disp en sa b l e T o h ave r u n i t o nly from Poco
m oke ri v er eastward w o ul d h ave l eft th e territory b e
twee n th e ri v e r an d th e bay stil l i n di sp u te an d h a ve l e ft
Maryl an d w ith ou t an y c l osin g an d i n itial p oi n t on th e b ay
3 Had t h e lin e establ ish e d by th e a greem en t b een an
arbi trary on e y et as i t w a s au th oriz ed an d accepted by
b oth col o n i es an d approve d by th e k in g i t wou l d h ave
b een c o n cl u si vely bi n din g B u t i t was n ot so T h e sou th
e rn b o u n d ary of Maryl an d o n th e eastern sh o re th ou gh
i t i s n ot so ex p res ed i n th e c h arter was an d i s th e th i rty
eigh t h d egree of n o rth l a t i tu d e
L etter fro m th e & i ng to
L ord B al ti m o re appen d ed to Rep o rts of 1 8 7 2 p 9 3 SO
i t i s d es c ri b ed by L ord Bal ti m or e o n th e m ap p u bl i sh ed
wi t h h is Rel ation ; an d i s i n deed a s ettl ed poi n t i n ge ogra
phy T h e c om m issi on ers ran th e l i n e accordi ngly Mi ch
l er s Rep ort ( s ee Repo rts p p 9
4 Thi s con str u cti o n i s s upp orted by th e term s of th e
Co mp a c t of 1 7 8 5 wh i ch e x pressly recogn i z es part of th e
”
Pocom oke ri ver as b ei n g w ith i n th e l i m its o f Vi rgi n ia
th ou g h th e l i n e o f di v isi o n b et w een th e two States u po n
”
th e sai d ri ver i s do ub tful
S ecti o n 1 0 Th e l i n e h ere re
ferred to i s th e Cal vert an d S c arboro u g h l i n e r u n o v er
Poco m o k e ri v er ; for t h e re w as n o oth er
5 Th e c o n tin u atio n o f th e l i n e fro m
th e extrem es t
”
part o f t h e western m ost angl e o f Watki n s Poin t over
S m i th s Isl an d to th e m o u t h of th e Po tom ac eith er to
Poin t Loo k o u t o r by t h e 3 8 th paral l el is p u t b eyo n d q u es
ti o n by th e evid en ce t h o u g h its estab l is h m en t b y any fo r
m al ac t o f p u b li c au th o ri ty c a n n o t b e p r o ved I t i s s h ow n
b y th e e vi d en c e o f trad iti o n pop ul ar u sage an d p u b l i c a c ts
o f b o t h si d es i n t h i s c o n trovers y s u c h as gra n ts o f l an d b y
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20
eac h on th e isl an d recogn izi ng th e l i n e o f d ivi sion b et w e e n
th em th e c o l l ecti o n o f ta x es b y b ot h a co m missi on u n d er
th e el e c tio n l a w o f Maryl an d by w hich a n el e c tio n district
was l aid off o f so m u ch of th e isl an d as l ies i n th at State
a n d j udi ci al decision s of th e cou r t s of th at S tate i n cases
o f viol atio n of h er oy ster l aws
whi ch rec ogni ze th e di
visi o n al li n e o n Tan g i er S trait b etwee n W atki n s Poi n t
an d th e islan d to b e as Vi rgi n ia c o n ten ds it i s
6 Th e l i n e whi ch Marylan d cl ai m s seems to b e u n d e
fi n ed an d u n certa i n In h er act ch 60 ( pass ed March 2 0 th
i t i s a ffi rm ed th at it has from l apse O f ti m e b e
”
com e u n certai n
In h er act c h 3 8 5 ( pass ed March
i t i s affi rm ed th at th e tr u e d ivisi o n al l i n e acr o ss Ch esa
”
p ea k e bay I s th e s ou th ernmos t ( n ot th e western m ost ) angl e
o f t h e b ody o f l an d d e fi n ed by th e afo re s ai d c o m missi on ers
”
as W at k i n s Poi n t
A n d n ow h e r p reten sio n is a ri g h t h a s
“
fro m S mith s Poi n t t o th e ce ntre o f C edar Straits b etw ee n
Pocom oke sou n d an d Tan gi e r s o u n d n ear th e s o u t h ern en d
”
of W atki n s Poi n t th en c e b y a righ t l i n e to th e ocean
T h es e l i n es are i rrecon cilabl e wi t h each ot h er B o th v i o
late th e agre em en t o f 1 668 i n th at n eith er of th em p ro
tracted east to th e ocean w o u l d to u ch at any p oi n t th e part
of th e l i n e east o f Poco m oke river to th e sea w hi ch b oth
si d es agree w as establ ish ed by th at a g reem en t ; n or w o u l d
a righ t li n e r u n east from th e c en tre o f C edar S traits to u ch
Po c o moke ri v er b u t w ou l d i n terse c t th e O p en Pocom oke
sou n d se v eral mil es b el o w th e m o u t h of th e ri v er Eith er
li n e so protracte d w ou l d u n settl e an d d isplace th at par t of
th e l i n e wh i ch h as b y con cessio n of b ot h sides b een k n ow n
an d resp ected as a fi x ed bou n dary b etween th em fo r n early
tw o c en tu ri es M oreo v er i t w o ul d di vi de b etwe en th e
S tates
th e waters of C h esa p ea k e b ay an d th e ri ver Po co
”
m ok e w ithi n th e l im its o f Vi rgi n ia ad m itted to b e h er
ri g h tfu l p ossessio n u n ti l qu estion ed i n t h is c o n tr o versy
Th ese l i n es are u n su pported b y any evid en c e o f o cc u p ation
o r recogn itio n o r m on u m en ts
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21
S om e cr i ti ci sm h as b een attem pted u p on th e app aren t
fail u re o f th e c o m mi ssio n ers i n 1 668 t o m ar k th e l i n e w est
It i s i n ferred i n th e face o f th ei r pl ai n
o f Poco moke river
l angu age an d th e obj ect of th ei r app oi n tm e n t to th e co n
th e e x tre m est
trary th at th ey di d n o t ru n th e l i n e from
”
p art of th e w esterm ost a n gl e at all b u t o nly so m u c h of
i t as th ey m ar k ed wit h mar k ed trees T h e i nfere n ce i s ill o
Th
ere
m
ay
h
ave
been
reason
s
fo
r
thi
s
om
i
ssi
on
i
c al
g
wh ich n o w c a n o n ly b e co nj ect u red Th e te rritory wa s
marshy di ffi cul t o f a cc e ss p robably b ar e of w ood s an d
”
th i nly settl ed i f at al l Th e ex trem est p art o f th e ca p e
or h eadl an d w as a pl ai n an d visi b l e obje c t b e i ng th e n m o re
prom in en t th an n ow — a p oi n t ru n n in g o u t from th e high
”
”
—
l an d of J am es Isl an d
an d
agreeabl e w ith th is i t
”
l wa s easy to ru n th e li n e over Pocom oke ri v er
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