| Washington submitted the conference report to the Virginia General Assembly by letter
dated December 28, 1784, together with a copy of the Potomac Company legislation passed by
the Maryland General Assembly." Washington noted his belief that the Maryland legislators
were "impressed with the importance of accelerating the purpose of the Legislature of Virginia of
opening a free and easy intercourse with the Western territory, and for the extension of inland
Navigation; and, that, there has been a perfect accordance of Sentiment in the Legislature of the
State."69
In the meantime, the Virginia General Assembly was already moving forward with the
effort. Concerned that the ultimate success of the Potomac route west would depend on
cooperation from the State of Pennsylvania, the Virginia legislature voted on December 28,
1784, to amend the authorization of the commissioners appointed the previous June (Mason,
Madison, Randolph and Henderson), instructing them to open a dialogue with Pennsylvania
about their plans "to promote the clearing and extending the navigation of the Potowmack from
tide water upwards as far as the same may be found practicable, to open a convenient road from
the head of such navigation to the waters running into the Ohio, and to render these waters
navigable as far as may be necessary and proper," and seeking Pennsylvania's support." If a
"joint representation" was not possible, the legislature directed that "any two" of the Virginia
68 28 Fitzpatrick, supra note 61. at 20-22 (Letter from Washington to Virginia General
Assembly of 12/28/1784).
69 Id. at 2 2 .
''° Journal of Virginia House of Delegates (1784), supra note 29, at 86.
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