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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1779
Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer, a delegate from the State of Maryland, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
A memorial of the proprietors of a tract of land called Indiana, signed on behalf of the proprietors, and as their agent, by George Morgan, was read, stating
That on the 3d day of November, 1768, at a general congress with the Six Nations and other Indians, held at Fort Stanwix, in consideration of the sum of £85,916 10 8, the amount of the value of the damages sustained by the traders, the said Six United and Independent Nations, the true and absolute owners and proprietors, did grant a tract of land called Indiana, described as follows, viz. Beginning at the southerly side of the mouth of Little Kenhawa creek, where it empties itself into the river Ohio, and running from thence south east to the Laurel Hill, thence along the Laurel Hill until it strikes the river Monongahela, thence down the stream of the said river Monongahela, according to the several courses thereof, to the southern boundary line of the province of Pensylvania, thence westerly along the course of the said province boundary line, as far as the same shall extend, and from thence by the same course to the river Ohio, thence down the said river Ohio, according to the several courses thereof, to the place of beginning: that the said tract of land, thus obtained for so valuable a consideration, and with every circumstance of notoriety and authority that can give validity to any grant, was afterwards (as being included within the bounds of a larger tract of land called Vandalia,) by order of the king of Great Britain in council, before the declaration of the independency of these United States, separated from the dominion which, in right of the crown, Virginia claimed over it. And therefore the memorialists are advised, that the said tract of country cannot remain subject to the jurisdiction of Virginia or any particular state, but of the whole United States in Congress assembled: that some acts of the State of Virginia, directing the sale of the lands in question, to commence in October next, for the particular benefit of that State, seem intended to prevent and defeat the interposition of Congress, and therefore praying this honourable House to take the distressed case of the memorialists into speedy consideration, and that such order may be directed as may be thought proper to stay Virginia in the sale of the lands in question, till Virginia,
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as well as the memorialist, can be heard before this honourable House, and the whole rights of the owners of the tract of land called Vandalia, of which Indiana is a part, shall be ascertained in such a manner as may tend to support the sovereignty of the United States and the just rights of individuals therein.
Also a memorial of William Trent, in behalf of Thomas Walpole and his associates, claiming a right to the tract of land called Vandalia, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, dated September 11, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 79.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, seconded by Mr. [John] Fell, that the first memorial, signed by George Morgan, be referred to a committee.
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the committee consist of five.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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