|
Preamble.
|
WHEREAS, at a meeting of the commissioners appointed by
the general assemblies of the commonwealth of Virginia and the
state of Maryland, for forming a compact between the two states,
to regulate and settle the jurisdiction and navigation of Patow-
mack, Pocomoke rivers, and that part of Chesapeake bay which
lieth within the territory of Virginia, to wit : George Mason and
Alexander Henderson, Esquires, on the part of the common-
wealth of Virginia, and Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer,
Thomas Stone and Samuel Chase, Esquires, on the part of the
state of Maryland, at Mount Vernon, in Virginia, on the twenty-
eighth day of March, in the year one thousand seven hundred
and eighty-five, the following compact was mutually agreed to
by the said commissioners. First, The commonwealth of Vir-
ginia disclaims all right to impose any toll, duty or charge, pro-
hibition or restraint, on any vessel whatever sailing through
the capes of Chesapeake bay to the state of Maryland, or from
the said state through the said capes outward bound, and agrees
that the waters of Chesapeake bay, and the river Pocomoke,
within the limits of Virginia, be forever considered as a common
highway, free for the use and navigation of any vessel belong-
ing to the said state of Maryland, or any of its citizens, or car-
rying on commerce to or from the said state, or with any of its
citizens, and that any such vessel, inward or outward bound,
may freely enter any of the rivers within the commonwealth of
Virginia as a harbour, or for safety against an enemy, without
the payment of port duties, or any other charge ; and also that
the before-mentioned parts of Chesapeake and Pocomoke river
be free for the navigation of vessels from one port of the state of
Maryland to another. Second, The state of Maryland agrees,
that any vessel belonging to the commonwealth of Virginia, or
any of its citizens, or carrying on commerce to or from the said
commonwealth, or with any of its citizens, may freely enter any
of the rivers of the said state of Maryland as a harbour, or for
safety against an enemy, without the payment of any port duty,
or any other charge. Third, Vessels of war, the property of
either state, shall not be subject to the payment of any port
duty, or other charge. Fourth, Vessels not exceeding forty feet
keel, nor fifty tons burthen, the property of any citizen of Vir-
ginia or Maryland, or of citizens of both states, trading from one
state to the other only, and having on board only the produce
of the said states, may enter and trade in any part of either
state, with a permit from the naval officer of the district from
which such vessel departs with her cargo, and shall be subject
to no port charges. Fifth, All merchant vessels (except such
as are described in the fourth article) navigating the river Pa-
towmack, shall enter and clear at some naval office on the said
river in one or both states, according to the laws of the state in
|
