of Connecticut & that of Penna & complain that they are disturbed in eerning the bounda ries & jurisdiction of the ed States their sd right by others claiming under the sd state of on the Western side of the Dela ware, also that a Penna & praying that a C may be inst" for determ the Court may be in stituted for determining the said rights; and the resolns. of the G. A. of Conn. & Ire private right of soil within the ad terri tory, & proclamn of Gov! Trumbul praying in like mann' the instn of such a court and further notifying that the sd state of Connecticut claims jurisdiction over all the lands between Pennsylvania & the Missisipi from 41° to 42° 2" Northern latitude. and the petition of Zebulon Butler & others inhabi tanes within the territory latein dispute between the sd states complaining that they are disturbed in their private right of soil & praying in like manner the institution of a court fordetermining the same, have agreed to the following report resoln. It appears to your Commee that the controversy between the states of Pennsylva & Connecticut for the territory on the Western side of Delaware river alledged to be within both their Pennsylvania and lately determined by a court constituted & appointed agreeably to the 9 Articles of Confederation and perpetual union to be within the jurisdiction of the State of Pensylvania, complaining that they are disturbed in their said right by others claiming under the said state of Pennsylvania and praying that a court may be instituted under the 9th article of the Confederation. for determining the sd right: Also the resolutions of the General assembly of Connecticut & the letter & proclamation of Gov! Trumbull, desiring in like manner the institution of such a court; and further notifying that the said state of Connecticut claims jurisdiction over all the lands between Pennsylvania & the Misissipi from 41° to 42° 2" Northern latitude have agreed to the following resolutions. boundaries was originated in Congress so early as the 5th day of Octob. 1775, and was frequently & much agitated therein from that time to the 3 day of Nov. 1781. That the state of Pennsva did then petition Congress that the same might be determined according to the 9th Art. of the Confedn. That Congress did thereen on the 14th day of the same month direct a notification to the state of Connecticut of the petition from Pennsylvania, and assign a day for proceeding thereon. That the same was regularly proceeded on according to the 9th Art. of the Confedn and that the judges met at Trenton on the 12th day of Nov. 1782 to hear and determine the same. That a fair, full & patient hearing of the parties by their agents, was given and mature consideration had by the sd court from the sd 12th day of Nov. day by day without intermission till the 30th day of Dec. when final sentence was pronounced that this sentence was with the unanimous concurrence of the sd judges. That no improper biass or conduct in the judges or any of them is rested or supposed or even suggested. That the sd 9th Article of the Confedn declares that the sentence of such a court shall be final & conclusive Resolved therefore that the sd sentence ought not to be revised. Resolved that a court should be instituted according to the sd 9th Art. of the Confedn for determining the private right of soil so far as the same is by the sd article submitted to the determination of such court. Resolved that the 4th Monday in June next be assigned for the appearance of the ed states of Connecticut & Pennsylvania and parties by their lawful agents at the place in which before Congress or the Commee of the states wheresoever they shall be then sitting. Resolved that the form of the notice be as follows, to be transmitted by the secretary To the claimants of the private right of soil within the territory heretofore claimed by the state of Connecticut but adjudged to belong to the state of Pennsylvania by the sentence of a federal court pronounced at Trenton on the 30th day of December 1782. To the Legislative and Executive-authorities of the state of Pennsylvania VOL. III-25 Resolved That the 4th Monday in June next be assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents before Congress or the Commee of the states wheresoever they shall be then sitting. Resolved That the form notice of the assignment of the sd day be given to the parties in the following form To the claimants of the private right of soil within the territory Westward of the Delaware heretofore in controversy between the states of Connecticut & Pennsylvania and adjudged to the latter by the sentence of a federal court of Pennsylva &e, pronounced at Trenton on the 30th day of Decemb. 1782. It is hereby made known that pursuant to the "article of the Confederation the Legistative & Executive bodies of the state of Connecticut and sundry individuals claiming private right of soil under the state of Connecticut of the said state have made application to Congress relating within the territory Westward of the Delaware late in dispute between the sd state & that of Pennsylvania have made application to Congress stating that they ad individuals and others claiming lands under grants from the sd state of Conneetieut have been disturbed in their said right of soil by others claiming under grants from the state of Pennsylva and praying for the institution of a court for determining the private right of soil in pursuance of the sd 9th article of the Confedn; and that the 4th Monday in June next is assigned for the appearance of the Connecticut & d states of Pennsylvania and Con. neetieut parties by their lawful agents before Congress or a Commee of the states wheresoever they shall be then sitting, to proceed in the premises as by the Confedn is directed. By order of Congress Charles Thomson It is hereby made known that sundry individuals claiming private right of soil under the state of Connecticut within the said territory have made application to Congress stating that they have been disturbed in their said right of soil by others claiming under the state of Pennsylvania & praying for the institution of a court for determining the said private right of soil in pursuance of the 9th article of Confederation: and that the 4th Monday in June next is assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents before Congress or a Commee of the states wheresoever they shall be then sitting, to proceed in the premises as by the Confederation is directed. By order of Congress. Charles Thomson, Secretary. Resolved that the sd notice be transmitted by the Secretary to the Executives of the states of Connecticut & Legislative powers of the state of Pennsylva with a request that they take proper measures for serving the same on the parties interested under their states respectively. The Commee having not had time to go through so much of the papers referred to them as relates to the claim of the sd state of Connecticut to territory Westward of the state of Pennsylvania beg further time for that purpose. Resolved that the sd notice be transmitted by the Secretary to the Executives of the states of Connecticut & Pennsylvania with a request that they take proper measures for having the same served on the parties interested under their states respectively. The Commee having not had time to go through so much of the matters referred to them as relates to the claim of the sd state of Connecticut to territory Westward of the state of Pennsylvania beg further time for that purpose. REPORT ON LETTER FROM JOHN ALLAN.1 [January 29, 1784.] The Commee to whom were referred the letter of John Allen of Dec. 25. 1783 to his Excy the President of Congress and the papers therein inclosed have agreed to the following resolution. Resolved that a copy of the sd letter be sent to the Governor of Massachusetts with a recommendation that he cause enquiry to be made whether the encroachments therein suggested have been actually made on the territories of the United States of Massachusetts by the subjects of his Britannic Majesty from the government of Nova Scotia and that if he shall find them any such to have been made, that he send a representation thereof to the British Governor of Nova Scotia with a copy of the Proclamation of the United States of the 14th inst. (which should be inclosed to the Governor of Massachusetts for that purpose) requesting him in a friendly manner and as a proof of that disposition for peace and harmony which should subsist between 1 Reported to Congress by a committee consisting of Jefferson, Osgood, and Williamson, and adopted Jan. 29th. The report is in Jefferson's handwriting. |