All things in XVIII. And be it farther enacted, That all matters or things contained in any act or acts heretofore made any prior act for the imposing and collecting taxes and duties, ex- for imposing cept so much thereof as respects the manner of col- taxes, exlecting, accounting for, and paying the arrears of cept specific taxes and duties now due, be and the same are hereby repealed. repealed. nia bounda Resolutions and Reports of Commis- Pennsylvasioners on the subject of the disputed ry. boundary between the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania. THE papers relating to this subject, so far as they have yet been published, cast but a few rays of light on the points in controversy, between the two states. Indeed, the resolution of the 18th of December 1776, and the final report of the commissioners of the 23rd of August 1785, who were merely appointed to run and mark the line, previously agreed on, are the only official documents, that have been published; and they were locked up in perfect obscurity, until the publication of the Revised Code of 1819. They will be found in the first volume of that work, pages 51, 52. But the claims of Pennsylvania to an extension of territory, and the grounds on which they were resisted by Virginia, are very imperfectly known. The following papers are intended to fill up the chasm between the resolution of 1776, and the report of the commissioners of 1785;,without which it is impossible to understand the principles on which the two states came to an amicable adjustment of their boundary. [For the resolution of December 18th 1776, See 1 Rev. Code of 1819, chap. 16, pa. 51.] a boundary.. Pennsylvani- Resolution respecting Commissioners on boundary line with Pennsylvania. Resolution agreeing to appoint commissioners that In the House of Delegates, May 20th 1779, Resolved that the governor be desired to inform the commissioners appointed on the part of Pennsylvania on the dis- to adjust the boundary between that and this state, puted boun- this assembly will proceed to nominate commissioners tween Vir. for the same purpose; to signify that the place appointginia and ed by them is agreeable; but to desire that such meetPennsylva⚫ ing may be postponed until the assembly shall have risen, of which notice shall be given them. dary be nia. May 21st, 1779. E. RANDOLPH, C. H. D. Agreed to by the senate, JOHN BECKLEY, C. S. Resolution for appointing commissioners to Resolution respecting appointment of Commissioners to run the boundary line with Pennsylvania. In the House of Delegates, June the 4th 1779. Resolved that three commissioners ought to be appointed on the part of this commonwealth, by joint ballot of both houses of assembly, to meet with commissioners appointed on the part of the state of Pennsylvania, to adjust their boundaries, whose proceedings shall be subject to be ratified or disagreed to by the proceedings general assembly. adjust the boundary between Virginia and Pennsylvania, whose are to be ra- June 5th 1779. tified or dis agreed to by Teste, the general Agreed to by the senate, assembly. E. RANDOLPH, C. H. D. JOHN BECKLEY, C. S. a boundary. A Journal of the proceedings of the Pennsylvani Commissioners from Virginia and Pennsylvania to agree upon certain boundaries for the state of Pennsylvania. Baltimore, August 27, 1779. Journal of The commissioners met this day, viz. on the part of proceedings Virginia, James Madison and Robert Andrews, and of Virginia on the part of Pennsylvania, George Bryan, John and PennsylEwing and David Rittenhouse.-Thomas Lewis, one vania comof the commissioners from Virginia, was not present. The commissioners from each state first shewed their respective powers, and it was determined that their proceedings were to be reported to the assemblies of each state for their consideration. It was then proposed that the commissioners from Pennsylvania should state their claims in writing, which they did in the following manner. missioners. LETTER I. To the Virginia Commissioners. Gentlemen, It appears from the charter of Pennsylvania Pennsylva. that its eastern boundary is the river Delaware, from nia commistwelve miles above New-Castle, and below that point sioners to Virginia a part of a circle drawn at the distance of twelve miles commissionfrom the centre of New-Castle; that its northern boun- ers. dary is the beginning of three and fortieth degree of north lititude; and that its southern boundary is the said circle at twelve miles distance from New-Castle northwards and westwards unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of northern latitude, and then a straight line westwards to the limits of five degrees of longitude; and that it shall extend westward five degrees in longitude, to be computed from the said eastern bounds. VOL. X. Q 3 |