Background 3
at Alexandria, but on the invitation of Washington met at Mount
Vernon, on March 28, 1785. The commissioners from Maryland
were Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Thomas Stone and Samuel
Chase; those representing Virginia were George Mason and
Alexander Henderson.
 The interest of Washington in fostering the Compact points up
 another reason for entering into it, which had only recently
 developed. In 1784 the two states had jointly chartered the Potomac
 Company, the predecessor of the company which ultimately
 constructed the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from Georgetown to
 Cumberland. There was strong interest in the possibilities for such a
 canal in the late eighteenth century, and Washington, with his well
 known interest in developing the great areas across the mountains,
 was a keen supporter of the idea.
 As the canal was envisaged at the time, it was to go to
 Cumberland, and from there, using either Wills Creek or going
 further up the Potomac into what is now Garrett County, to connect
 with another canal going to the headwaters of one of the streams
 ultimately flowing into the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The need for
 joint, interstate action was apparent, in order to construct any such
 canal up the valley of the Potomac.
 The Compact drafted at Mount Vernon was thereafter submitted
 to the respective legislatures for final approval and acceptance.
II. PROVISIONS
 The Compact as drafted at Mount Vernon and passed by the two
 legislatures contained thirteen articles. A detailed analysis of them
 follows:'
 1. Virginia engages generally to keep her waters open to vessels
 going to and from Maryland waters, without the imposition of any
 toll, duty, or charge, or any prohibition or restraint.
 1 The full text of the Compact of 1785 will be found in Appendix B.