| Letter from the Commissioners of Virginia and Maryland, George Mason, Alexander Henderson, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Thomas Stone, and Samuel Chase, to John Dickinson Esq, President of the State of Pennsylvania, concerning the need for portage to and from the Ohio from the head of the Potomac, unincumbered by any fees or tolls charged by Pennsylvania. MSA S 989-48 (32-127). [The following text is taken from the Papers of George Mason, vol . II. See the portage.tif below for page images and the other images for the original record in the Maryland State Archives. Note that the Commissioners do not refer to the Compact they have just completed. Instead they refer exclusively to the Potomac Company legislation enacted prior to their current negotiations.
ENCLOSURE 2
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL OF THE COMMONWEALTH
OF PENNSYLVANIA
SIR Virginia, Mount Vernon, March 28th. 1785.
In Pursuance of Directions from the Legislatures of Virginia and
Maryland, respectively to us given, we beg Leave to represent to the State
of Pensylvania, that it is in Contemplation of the said two States to
promote the clearing & extending the Navigation of Potomack, 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 & proper; that the said works will require great Expence,
which may not be repaid, unless a free Use be secured to the said States,
& their Citizens, of the water of the Ohio & it's Branches, as far as the
same lie within the Limits of Pensylvania: that as essential Advantages will
accrue from such Works to a considerable Portion of the said State, it is
thought reasonable that the Legislature thereof shou'd by some previous
Act engage, that for the Encouragement of the said Works, all Articles of
Produce & Merchandize, which may be conveyed to or from either of the
said two States, thro' either of the said Rivers, within the Limits of
Pensylvania, to or from any Place without the said Limits, shall pass
throughout, free from all Duties, or Tolls whatsoever, other than such
Tolls as may be established, & be necessary for reimbursing Expences
incurred by the State, or it's Citizens, in clearing, or for defraying the
Expence of Preserving the Navigation of the said Rivers. And that no
Articles imported into Pensylvania thro' the Channel or Channels or any
Part thereof to be opened as aforesaid, and vended or used within the said
State, shall be subject to any Duties or Imposts, other than such Articles
wou'd be subject to, if imported into the said State thro' any other Channel
whatsoever.
We request Sir, that you will take the earliest Opportunity of laying this
Representation, on Behalf of the two States, before the Legislature of
Pensylvania; ar)d that you will communicate the Result to the Executives
of Virginia & Maryland.
[822]
By Acts of the Legislatures of Virginia & Maryland for opening
the Navigation of the River Potomach above tide-Water, the Citizens of the United States have the same Right of trading thro' the
said Water, which the Citizens of Maryland & Virginia enjoy; and
we have no Doubt but the Legislature of your State will, agreeably
to this Principle, give every Encouragement to Measures, which
have for their Object, the Interest & Convenience of their Citizens,
and those of the other States in the Union. We have the Honour to
be, with the greatest Respect, Sir your most obdt. Servants
G MASON
ALEXR. HENDERSON
DANL: OF ST. THOS. JENIFER
T. STONE
SAMUEL CHASE
ecp 12/13/00] |
