At a SESSION of the GENERAL
ASSEMBLY of MARYLAND, begun
and held at the city of ANNAPOLIS,
on
Monday the seventh of November, in
the Year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and eighty-five,
the following laws were enacted. |
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CHAP. I.
An ACT to approve, confirm and ratify, the compact made
by the commissioners appointed by the general assembly
of
the commonwealth of Virginia, and the commissioners
appointed
by this state, to regulate and settle the jurisdiction
and navigation of Patowmack and Pocomoke rivers,
and
that part of Chesapeake bay which lieth within the
territory
of Virginia. |
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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 Patowmack,
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 commonwealth 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 Virginia
disclaims all right to impose any toll, duty or charge, prohibition
or restraint, on any vessel whatever failing through 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 for ever
considered
at a common highway, free for the use and navigation of any
vessel belonging to the said state of Maryland, or any of its citizens,
or
carrying 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 bay and Pocomoke river be free for the navigation of vessels
from one part 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 tuns burthen, the property of
any |
Preamble. |
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