HENING'S STATUTES, VOLS. 5-13 (1738-1792)

BRIDGES

The assembly routinely passed laws regulating the erection and maintenance of bridges. None pertained to the Potomac, and they do not seem relevant to the river during this period.

PORTS

May 1784–8th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXII, (H111: 402-404)

An act to restrict foreign vessels to certain ports within this commonwealth.

I. "Whereas the trade and commerce carried on between the citizens of the commonwealth and foreign merchants, would be placed upon a more equal foundation, and expedition and dispatch thereby be better promoted, if the vessels of foreign merchants trading to this state should be restricted to certain ports and places with the same, in lading and unlading, and the revenue arising from commerce would also thereby be more certainly collected:"

II. "Be it therefore enacted, That the ships and other vessels trading to this commonwealth from foreign parts, which are the property of other than the citizens of the same, shall enter, or clear out, lade and unlade, at the following places, to wit: Norfolk and Portsmouth as one port, Bermuda Hundred, Tappanhannock, York Town, or Alexandria, and at no other ports or places therein . . ."

III. "And whereas the navigating small country craft by slaves, the property of the owners of such craft, tends to discourage free white seamen, and to encrease the number of such white seamen would produce public good:"

IV. "Be it therefore enacted, That not more than one-third part of the persons employed in the navigation of any bay or river craft, below the falls of te rivers, shall consist of slaves . . ."

V. "Provided nevertheless, That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to extend to the navigation of the rivers westward of the Allegany mountains."

October 1786–11th Commonwealth, Chap. XLII (H12:320-23)

An act to amend the act, intituled An act to restrict foreign vessels to certain ports within this commonwealth.

I. "For the better securing the revenue, arising from duties on imports and exports . . . and for regulating the trade of this commonwealth, whereby foreigners may be placed on a more equal footing, and the increase of seamen in this state be promoted by a due attention to internal navigation, for the extension of the commerce thereof;"

II. "Be it enacted, That from and after the first day of April next, the following places shall be, and the same are hereby established as ports of entrance and clearance for all ships and other vessels coming from or going to any port or place without this commonwealth, that is to say: "For the district of Elizabeth river, the port of Norfolk, for this district of James river . . . ; for the district of South Potowmack, for all vessels coming from or going to sea, any part of the Chesapeak by, or any part of the Maryland shore below Point Look-Out, at the port of Yocomico; all vessels coming from or going to any part of the Maryland shore above the said poit Look-Out, at the said port of Yocomico or at the port of Alexandria; (provided that in all cases of entrance or clearance at Alexandria, the same shall and may be made with the deputy appointed by the naval officer of the said district); . . . And that all vessels coming into or going out of this commonwealth shall proceed to one or other of the said ports, and shall there be subject to such regulations as are or may be by law established. . . ."

III. "And be it further enacted, That the following places shall be, and the same are hereby established as ports of delivery for the lading and unlading of all vessels coming into or going out of this state, that is to say . . . for the district of Potowmack river, the ports of Alexandria and mouth of Quantico . . ."

IV. "Provided always, and be it further enacted, That any vessel built within the United States, and wholly owned by any of the citizens thereof, shall and may lade at any port or place within this commonwealth, with any article or articles for exportation . . ." [ie. US vessels exempt].

V. "And be it further enacted, That all persons owning any river or bay craft, except vessels employed as ferry boats, shall register the same with the cleark of the court of the county or corporation in which such owner may reside . . ."

VI. "Provided nevertheless, That nothing contained in this act, shall be construed so as to extend to the navigation of any river in this commonwealth above tide water, or to prevent the owner of any boat or flat from transporting any article of his own growth or manufacture therein."

October 1787–12th Commonwealth, Chap. III (H12:434-38)

An act to amend an act, intituled, An act to amend the act, intituled, an act to restrict foreign vessels to certain ports in this commonwealth.

I. "For the better securing the revenue arising from duties on imports and exports, whereby the burthen of regulating the trade of this commonwealth whereby foreigners may be placed on a more equal footing;"

II. "Be it enacted, That from and after the first day of February next, the following places shall be and the same are hereby established as ports of entrance and clearance for all ships and other vessels coming from or going to any port or place without this commonwealth, that is to say: . . . for the district of South Potowmack, at the ports of Yeocomico, or Alexandria: Provided, That all cases of entrance or clearance at Alexandria, shall and may be made with a deputy, appointed by the naval officer of the said district, and residing at the said port . . ."

III. "And be it further enacted, That the following places shall be, and the same are hereby established as ports of delivery for the unlading and lading of all vessels coming into or going out of this state, not built within the United States and not wholly owned by a citizen or citizens thereof, that is to say: . . . for the district of Potowmack river, the port of Yeocomico, mouth of Quantico, and Alexandria. . ."

IV. "And be if further enacts, That the following places, shall be, and the same are hereby established as ports of delivery for the unlading and lading of all vessels coming into or going out of this commonwealth, built within the United States, and wholly owned by a citizen or citizens thereof . . . for the district of Potowmack river, the ports of Yeocomico, mouth of Quantico, and Alexandria . . .'

V. Penalties for failure to comply with this act.

VI. Vessels above eighteen feet in length, to be employed as river or bay craft, to be registered.

VII. ". . . All masters or commanders of vessels coming into this commonwealth shall be obliged to make a true and just report to the naval-officer at the lowet port of entry upon the river, they shall be bound to, except the river Potowmack . . .

UNITED STATES

Resolutions, Jan. 2d, 1781, (H10:564-67)

For a cession of the lands on the north west side of Ohio to the United States.

Virginia yields to the congress of the US "all right, title, and claim that the said commonwealth hath to the lands northwest of the river Ohio."

October 1789–14th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXII (H13:43-44)

An act for the cession of ten miles square, or any lesser quantity of territory within this state, to the United States, in Congress assembled, for the permanent seat of the general government.

[This law makes no mention of the Potomac River.]