Report of the Committee appointed to confer with the Delegates in Congress from Virginia, on the settlement of a temporary boundary between Virginia and this State

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"The Committee of the honourable Convention of the State of Pennsylvania, appointed to confer with the honourable Delegates in Congress from the State of Virginia, on the settlement of a temporary boundary between the said

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States, are of opinion, that the line proposed by the honourable Delegates will be very wide from the true limits of Pennsylvania, according to the Charter; and as the State of Virginia, in one of their most solemn acts, published as the future form of Government for that State, and intending thereby to lay the most solid basis for union and confederation with the neighbouring States, has ‘ceded, released, and forever confirmed to the people of this State all the territories contained within the Charter erecting this Colony, with all the rights of property, jurisdiction, and government, and all other rights whatever,’ the proposing a temporary boundary, which would cut off so large a part from this State, seems inconsistent with the said full, free, and absolute release, and instead of being the basis of union, would certainly be the occasion of much confusion; and as the minds of the inhabitants of that part of the country are greatly agitated by the disputes between the two Governments, we have reason to apprehend fatal consequences, should a temporary boundary so apparently partial be agreed to, even upon the principle mentioned by the honourable Convention of Virginia in their resolve, empowering their Delegates to confer on this subject, (supposing it equitable, which may be liable to dispute,) the line proposed, we apprehend, cannot be admitted; and we are convinced that honourable body must have been misinformed as to the settlement of that part of the country which lies between the temporary boundary proposed and the true line. We can assure the honourable Delegates that it is far from the wish of the people of this State to extend the same beyond its due bounds; it is equally far from their wish to establish a temporary jurisdiction confessed far within those bounds, as such a temporary boundary would, on many accounts, be productive of more confusion and greater inconveniences than if it was permanent and final:

"Therefore, as the only means of restoring peace and unity amongst the inhabitants of the frontiers of each State, it is our earnest desire that a temporary boundary as nearly correspondent to the true one as possible, and such as will ‘do no injury to either party,’ should be run, which may be done in a very short time, and at a trifling expense, with no considerable error, by one or more Commissioners appointed on the part of each State.

"It will give us great pleasure should this proposal meet with the approbation of the honourable Delegates, as such a settlement will enable the inhabitants to join heart and hand in the great cause wherein we are all equally interested.

"DAVID RITTENHOUSE,
OWEN BIDDLE,
"THOMAS SMITH,
JAMES POTTER,
"ALEXANDER LOWREY,
EDWARD COOK."

Report of the Committee appointed to confer with the Delegates in Congress from Virginia, on the settlement of a temporary boundary between Virginia and this State. [1776-09-14] [S5-V2-p0041] [Document Details][Complete Volume]