| 2;
has not been altogether warranted. As to jurisdiction
and navigation, the regulations were quite satisfactory.
The compact locates Watkins and Smith's Points, but
plainly says that the lines from either of these places
"may- be doubtful," thus prophesying the altercation
which did in fact arise.
The main interest in the compact of iy$5 is, that it
preceded the perfection of the union of the colonies into
a stronger central government. The Articles of Confed-
eration left too much power to the separate state govern-
ments, and the inadequacy of the powers granted in those
articles is shown in the causes leading to the compact.
In other words, the compact has more hearing on na-
tional history than on the history on the boundary dis-
pute at this stage of its progress. Later, when the fish-
ery rights came to be determined, we shall see that this
agreement of 1785, as interpreted by the Supreme Court,
decided the last point at issue in the long controversy.
y
INI;It'FkC'fUAI, LIrGISLA'PIOId
x785-IHfO
Soon after the Revolution, the gradual movement of
the settlers farther westward raised the question of own-
ership of land between the two branches of the
Potomac.
A measure of the General Assembly of Maryland, in
y87, resulted in the appointment of Francis Deakins, who
was directed to lay out manors and such parts of the re-
serves and vacant lands lying to the westward of Fort
Cumberland as he might think fit and capable of being set-
tled and improved, in lots of fifty acres each." This was
done, and the next year an act was passed far the distribu-
tion of these lots among the soldiers who had composed the
|
