From William Bingham and James R. Reid (unpublished)
[June 6, 1788]
Sir,
We have the Honor to inclose you the Report of a Committee of
Congress, respecting a Survey to fix the Boundaries, and determine
the Quantity of the Territory adjoining the State of Pennsylvania,
belonging to the United States, as well as the Terms on which the
Board of Treasury is authorized to dispose of the same.
We shall wait for the Instructions of the Hon’ble the Supreme
Executive Council, whether to make an Offer for the indefinite
Quantity that may be contained within the Boundaries of the said
Tract, or suspend the Negotiation, untill the Amount is precisely
ascertained by Survey.
We would recommend the former Mode, as most conducive to the
Interests of the State of Pennsylvania, & most effectually
guarding against the Cupidity of private Speculators.
We have the Honor to be with Respect Sir your Excellency’s msot
obed’t & very h’ble Servants
Proceedings in Congress—Erie, 1788.
By The United States in Congress assembled June 6th 1788.
On the Report of a Committee to whom was referred
the motion of Mr. Irwin.
Resolved, That the Geographer of the United States be & he is
hereby directed to ascertain by himself or by a Deputy duly
appointed for the purpose, the boundary Line between the United
States & the States of New York & Massachusets agreeably to the
Deeds of Cession of the said States.
That the said Geographer inform the Executives of the States of
New York & Massachusets of the Time of running the said Line, in
order that they or either of them may if they think proper have
Persons attending at the Time.
That the said Geographer or his Deputy having run the Meridian
between Lake Erie & the State of Pennsylvania, & marked & noted
down in his field Book proper Land Marks for the perpetuating the
same, shall proceed to make a Survey of the Land lying West of the
said Line between Lake Erie & the State of Pennsylvania, so as to
ascertain the Quantity thereof, & make return of Such survey to
the Board of Treasury who are hereby authorized & impowered at
any time before or after such Survey to sell the said Tract in
whole at private Sale for a Price not less than three fourths of a
Dollar Per Acre in Specie, or Public Securities drawing Interest.
Copy.
Extract from the Deed of Cession
made by the State of New York.
March 1st, 1781.
“Now therefore know ye, that we the said James Duane, William
Floyd, and Alexander McDougale by Virtue of the Power & Authority
& in the Execution of the Trust reposed in us as aforesaid have
judged it Expedient to limit & restrict the Boundaries of the
said State in the Western parts thereof with respect to the
Jurisdiction, as well as the right or pre-emption of Soil, by the
Lines and in the form following, that is to say: a Line from the
North East Corner of the State of Pennsylvania, along the North
Bounds thereof, to its North West Corner continued, due West,
untill it shall be intersected by a Meridian Line, to be drawn
from the forty fifth degree of North Latitude, through the most
Westerly Bent or Inclination of Lake Ontario; thence by the said
Meridian Line to the forty fifth Degree of North Latitude; but if
on Experiment, the above described Meridian Line shall not
comprehend twenty Miles, due West, from the most Westerly Bent or
Inclination of the River or Straight of Niagara, then we do by
these presents in the Name of the People & for & in behalf of
the State of New York & by Virtue of the Authority aforesaid,
limit & restrict the Boundaries of the said State, in the Western
parts thereof, with respect to Jurisdiction, as well as the right
of Pre-emption of Soil, by the Lines & the manner following, that
is to say; A Line from the North East Corner of the State of
Pennsylvania along the North Bounds thereof to its North West
Corner continued due West untill it shall be intersected by a
Meridian Line to be drawn from the forty fifth degree of North
Latitude, and thence by the said forty fifth Degree of North
Latitude.”
Extract from the Deed of Cession
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, April 19th, 1785.
“Now therefore, know ye, that we the said Samuel Holten, &
Rufus King, by Virtue of the Power & Authority, to us committed
by the said Acts of the General Court of Massachusetts, do by
these Presents assign, transfer, quit, claim, cede & convey to
the United States of America, for their Benefit, Massachusetts
inclusive, all States of America, for their Benefit, Massachusetts
inclusive, all which the said Commonwealth hath to the Territory
or Tract of Country within the Limits of the Massachusetts
Charter, situate & lying west of the following Line—that is to
say, a Meridian Line to be drawn from the forty fifth degree of
North Latitude, through the most westerly Bent or Inclination of
Lake Ontario thence by the said Meridian Line to the most
southerly Side Line of the Territory contained in the
Massachusetts Charter; but if on Experiment the above described
Meridian Line shall not comprehend twenty miles due West from the
most westerly Bent or Inclination of the River or Straight of
Niagara, then we do by these Presents, by Virtue of the power &
Authority aforesaid, in the Name & on behalf of the said
Commonwealth of Massachusetts transfer, quit, claim, cede &
convey to the United States of America, for their Benefit,
Massachusetts inclusive, all right, Title & Estate, of & in as
well the Soil as the Jurisdiction, which the said Commonwealth
hath to the Territory or Tract of Country within the Limits of the
Massachusetts Charter, situate and lying West of the following
line, That is to say, a Meridian Line to be drawn from the forty
fifth Degree of most Westerly Bent or Inclination of the River or
Straight of Niagara, thence by the said Meridian Line to the most
Southerly side line of the Territory contained in the
Massachusetts Charter aforesaid for the Purposes in the said
recited Acts declared & to the Uses in a Resolve of Congress of
the tenth day of October one Thousand seven hundred and eighty.”
Endorsed: June 6th, 1788. Proceedings of Congress for ascertaining
the Boundary between the lands of the U.S. and New York and
Massachusetts.
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