Pennsylvania boundary. LETTER VI. Virginia commission Gentlemen, WE cannot agree to make that addition to ers to Penn- our proposal of the 30th of August 1779, which you sylvania in the paper communicated to us this day, have made commission- the condition of your acceptance. But from the same ers. motive which has actuated us throughout the whole of Pennsylvania commis sioners to Gentlemen, WE agree to your last proposal of August 31st 1779, to extend Mason's and Dixon's line due Virginia west five degrees of longitude, to be computed from commission- the river Delaware, for the southern boundary of Pennsylvania; and that a meridian drawn from the western ers. extremity thereof to the northern limit of the state, be Pennsylvanithe western boundary of Pennsylvania forever. a boundary. We are, gentlemen, Your most obed❜t. & very humble serv❜ts. GEORGE BRYAN, JOHN EWING, DAVID RITTENHOUSE, To the Rev. James Madison, &) the Rev. Robert Andrews. Baltimore, 31st August, 1779. Agreement of commissioners for southern and western boundary of Pennsylvania. Baltimore 31st August 1779. southern & nia. WE James Madison and Robert Andrews, commis- Agreement sioners for the state of Virginia, and George Bryan, of commisJohn Ewing and David Rittenhouse, commissioners sioners for for the state of Pennsylvania, do hereby mutually, in western behalf of our respective states ratify and confirm the boundary of following agreement, viz. To extend Mason's and Pennsylva Dixon's line due west five degrees of longitude, to be computed from the river Delaware, for the southern boundary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian drawn from the western extremity thereof to the northern limit of the said state be the western boundary of Pennsylvania forever: In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this thirty first day of August in the year of our Lord 1779. JAMES MADISON, GEORGE BRYAN, Pennsylvani a boundary. Ratification of the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Virginia, on the part of Pennsylvania. Ratification of the boun dary line, on the part of Pennsylvania In General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Friday, November 19th, 1779. Agreeable to the order of the day, the house took up the report of the commissioners appointed to settle the boundary line between this state and Virginia, and the same being read and fully considered Resolved unanimously, That this house do ratify and finally confirm the agreement entered into between commissioners from the state of Virginia and commissioners from this state, which agreement is in the following words. Baltimore, August 31st, 1779. WE George Bryan, John Ewing and David Rittenhouse, commissioners for the state of Pennsylvania, and we, James Madison and Robert Andrews, commissioners for the state of Virginia, do hereby mutually, in behalf of our respective states, ratify and confirm the following agreement, viz. To extend Mason's and Dixon's line due west five degrees of longitude, to be computed from the river Delaware, for the southern boundary of Pennsylvania; and that a meridian drawn from the western extremity thereof to the northern limits of the said state, be the western boundary of Pennsylvania forever. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this thirty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine. Resolutions of the General Assembly of Virginia, respecting the disputed boundary with Pennsylvania. IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGÁTES June 23d, 1780. Pennsylvani. a boundary. ratification, THE General Assembly of Virginia have had under Conditional their consideration the agreement entered into between on the part the commissioners of this commonwealth and those of of Virginia, Pennsylvania, at Baltimore, on the 31st day of August in the year 1779, respecting the disputed territory and boundary line between the two states, together with the papers and proceedings thereupon; and although the general assembly of Virginia are far from thinking the reasoning of the Pennsylvania commissioners in support of their claim conclusive, or that this commonwealth is bound by the agency of commissioners whose powers were restrained to an agreement for ascertaining boundaries, to be referred to their respective assemblies, for their ratification or rejection; yet actuated by the same principles and motives which induced the Convention of Virginia, in that act which formed our new government, to make a cession and release of the territory contained within their respective charters to the neighbouring states, to promote the common cause of America, to prevent as far as in their power future dispute and animosity, and to prove the sincerity of their professions and desire to cultivate and maintain the most cordial harmony with their sister state of Pennsylvania united with us, by the most sacred ties, in the defence of our common rights and liberty, the general assembly of Virginia are willing to ratify the aforesaid agreement on the conditions expressed in the following Resolve, corresponding with the reservation in their offer of December 18th 1776. Resolved therefore that the agreement made on the 31st day of August 1779, between James Madison and Robert Andrews, commissioners for the commonwealth of Virginia, and George Bryan, John Ewing and David Rittenhouse, commissioners for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania be ratified and finally confirmed, to wit, that the line commonly called Mason's and Dix Pennsylvani- on's line be extended due west five degrees of longia boundary tude, to be computed from the river Delaware, for the southern boundary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian drawn from the western extremity thereof to the northern limits of the said states respectively, be the western boundary of Pennsylvania forever. On condition that the private property and rights of all persons acquired under, founded on, or recognized by the laws of either country, previous to the date hereof, be saved and confirmed to them, although they should be found to fall within the other; and that in the decision. of disputes thereupon, preference shall be given to the elder or prior right which ever of the said states the same shall have been acquired under; such persons paying to that state within whose boundary their lands shall be included, the same purchase or consideration money which would have been due from them to the state under which they claimed the right: and where any such purchase or consideration money hath since the declaration of American Independence been received by either state for lands, which according to the before recited agreement shall fall within the territory of the other, the same shall be reciprocally refunded and repaid. Resolved that upon the acceptance and full ratification of this condition and agreement on the part of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the governor be empowered with the advice of the council to appoint two commissioners on behalf of this commonwealth, in conjunction with commissioners to be appointed by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to extend the line commonly called Mason's and Dixon's line five degrees of longitude from Delaware river as aforesaid, and from the western termination thereof to run and mark a meridian line to the Ohio river, which is as far as the general assembly conceive the same can at present be extended and marked, without danger of umbrage to the Indians; giving to the said commissioners on the part of Virginia such instructions therein, as the governor with the advice of the council shall judge proper. Teste, 1780, July 1st. JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D. Agreed to by the Senate with an amendment. WILL. DREW, C. S. |