RESOLUTIONS.
|
229
|
earliest settlement of the country, has been used by the in-
habitants of its borders for the convenient transportation to
market of the products of their industry, and for the trans-
portation from the seaboard to the interior, of such arti-
cles as the situation of its people rendered convenient and
necessary: And whereas the inhabitants of the soil border-
ing on navigable rivers, have a right to the free and unob-
structed use of such rivers, for the purposes aforesaid, and
such principle has been sanctioned by the enlightened
judgment of mankind, and has been strengthened by the
union under one government of these states: And where-
as the maintenance ol this principle is necessary to the
convenient intercourse between the different states, is cal-
culated to develope the resources and increase the wealth
and the power of said states, and to promote the hap-
piness of their respective citizens, and to bind these states
indissolubly together under our present happy form of
government: And whereas the constitution of the Uni-
ted States has secured to the citizens of each state, all the
privileges and immunities oi citizens in the several states,
and hath expressly prohibited the passage of any law, by
the legislature of a state, imposing the obligations of con-
tracts: And whereas by an act of the legislature of Maryland,
passed at November session 1799, to incorporate a compa-
ny to make a canal from the river Delaware to the Chesa-
peake Bay, it was declared that the said act should be of
no force or effect until a law should be passed by the state
of Pennsylvania, declaring; the river Susquehanna a public
highway, and authorising individuals or bodies corporate to
remove any obstructions therein, at a period not exceeding
three years, from the first day of March in the year eigh-
teen hundred: And whereas the state of Pennsylvania in
the year 1801, did also pass an act to incorporate the said
company, and in compliance with the condition precedent
contained in the law of Maryland expressly enacts and de-
clares — "that the river Susquehanna, down to the Maryland
line, shall be, and the same is hereby declared to he, a pub-
lic highway, any act or law of this commonwealth to the
contrary notwithstanding, and it shall and may be lawful
for the Chesapeake and Delaware canal company, or any
other body corporate or individuals, to remove all natural
and artificial obstructions therefrom:" And whereas in
consequence of the act passed by the legislature of Penn-
sylvania as aforesaid, the legislature of Maryland pursuing
the same friendly and liberal course that has at all times
characterised the conduct of this state towards her sister
states, did by an act passed at December session 1813, pro-
|
1830.
|
|
 |
