LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1791.

269

the president of the United States directed a city to be laid outj
comprehending all the lands beginning on the east side of Rock
creek, at a stone standing in the middle of the road leading
from Georgetown to Bladensburgh, thence along the middle of
the said road to a stone standing on the east side of the reedy
branch of Goose creek, thence south-easterly, making an angle
of sixty-one degrees and twenty minutes with the meridian, to
a stone standing in the road leading from Bladensburgh to the
Eastern Branch ferry, then south to a stone eighty poles north
of the east and west line already drawn from the mouth of
Goose creek to the Eastern Branch, then east, parallel to the
said east and west line, to the Eastern Branch, then with the
waters of the Eastern Branch, Patowmack river and Rock
creek, to the beginning; which hath since been called the city
of Washington : And whereas it appears to this general assem-
bly highly just and expedient, that all the lands within the said
city should contribute, in due proportion, in the means which
have already very greatly enhanced the value of the whole ;
that an incontrovertible title ought to be made to the pur-
chasers, under public sanction; that allowing foreigners to
hold land within the said territory, will greatly contribute to
the improvement and population thereof; and that many tem-
porary provisions will be necessary, till congress exercise the
jurisdiction and government over the said territory: And
whereas, in the cession of this state, heretofore made, of terri-
tory for the government of the United States, the lines of such
cession could not be particularly designated ; and it being expe-
dient and proper that the same should be recognized in the acts
of this state,

SEC. 2. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That all that part of the said territory, called Columbia, which
lies within the limits of this state, shall be and the same is
hereby acknowledged to be forever ceded and relinquished to
the congress and government of the United States, in full and
absolute right, and exclusive jurisdiction, as well of soil as of
persons residing, or to reside, thereon, pursuant to the tenor
and effect of the eighth section of the first article of the consti-
tution of government of the United States ; provided, that
nothing herein contained shall be so construed to vest in the
United States any right of property in the soil, as to affect the
rights of individuals therein, otherwise than the same shall or
may be transferred by such individuals to the United States ;
and provided also, that the jurisdiction of the laws of this
state, over the persons and property of individuals residing
within the limits of the cession aforesaid, shall not cease or
determine until congress shall by law provide for the govern-

Territory
ceded to
congress,
&c.