January, 1781, resolved that they would yield to the Congress of the United States, for the benefit of the said States, all right, title, and claim which the said Commonwealth hath to the lands northwest of the river Ohio, upon the following conditions, viz :

1. That the territory so ceded, should be laid out and formed into States containing a suitable extent of territory, not less than one hundred nor more than one hundred and fifty miles square, or as near thereto as circumstances will admit; and that the States so formed, should be distinct republican States, and admitted members of the Federal Union; having the same rights of sovereignty, freedom and independence as the other States.

[Here follow six propositions not transcribed because irrelevant.]

8. That all the remaining territory of Virginia included between the Atlantic ocean and the southeast side of the river Ohio, and the Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina boundaries, shall be guarantied to the Commonwealth of Virginia, by the said United States.

Whereupon your committee are of opinion that the first condition is provided for by the act of Congress of the 10th of October, 1780.

[Here follow parts of the report not transcribed. Irrelevant.]

As to the last condition, your committee are of opinion, that Congress cannot agree to guaranty to the Conmonwealth of Virginia, the land described in the said condition, without entering into a discussion of the right of the State of Virginia to the said land; and that by the act of Congress, it appears to have been their intention, which the committee cannot but approve, to avoid all discussion of the territorial rights of individnal States; and only to recommend and accept a cession of their claims, whatsoever they might be, to vacant territory. Your committee conceive this condition of a guaranty, to be either unnecessary or unreasonable; inasinuch as if the land above mentioned is really the property of Virginia, it is sufficiently secured by the consideration; and if it is not the property of that State, there is no reason or consideration for such guaranty.

On the question to agree to this report, it was resolved in the affirmative.

C No. 5.

Extract from the Cession of the State of New York, March 1st, 1781.

Now therefore, know ye, that we, the said James Duane, William Floyd, and Alexander M'Dougall, by virtue of the power and authority, and in execution of the trust reposed in us, as aforesaid, have judged it expedient to limit and restrict, and we do, by these presents, for and in behalf of the said State of New York, limit and restrict, the boundaries of the said State on 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 northeast corner of the State of Pennsylvania along the north bounds thereof, to its northwest corner, continued due west till it shall be intersected by a meridian line, to be drawn from the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; through the most westerly bend or inclination of Lake Ontario; thence by the said meridian line to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; and thence by the said 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 bend or inclination of the river or Strait of Niagara, then we do, by these presents, in the name of the people, and for and in behalf of the State of New York, and by virtue of the authority aforesaid, limit and 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 and in the manner following, that is to say: a line from the northeast corner of the State of Pennsylvania, along the north bounds thereof, to its northwest corner, continued due west until it shall be intersected by a meridian, line to be drawn from the forty-fifth degree north latitude, to a point twenty miles due west from the most westerly bend or inclination of the river or Strait of Niagara, thence by the same meridian line to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude, and thence by the said forty-fifth degree of north latitude. And we do, by these presents, in the name of the people, and for and on behalf of the State, of New York, and by virtue of the power and trust committed in us by the said act and commission, cede, transfer, and for ever relinquish to and for the only use of such of the States as are or shall become parties to the articles of confederation, all the right, title, interest, jurisdiction, claim, &c. of said State of New York, to all lands and territories to the northward and westward of the boundaries, to which the said State is, in manner aforesaid, limited and restricted, and to be granted, disposed of, and appropriated in such manner only, as the Congress of the said United or Confederated States shall order and direct.

C No. 6.

Extract from the Cession of the State of Virginia, March 1, 1784. That it shall and may be lawful for the delegates of this State to the Congress of the United States, or such of them as may be assembled in Congress, and the said delegates, or such of them so assembled, are hereby fully authorized and empowered for and on behalf of this State, by proper deeds or instrument in writing, under their hands and seals, to convey, transfer, assign, and make over unto the United States in Congress assembled, for the benefit of the said States, all right, title, and claim, as well of soil as of jurisdiction, which this Commonwealth hath to the territory or tract of country within the limits of the Virginia charter: situate, lying and being to the northwest of the river Ohio, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the before recited act of Congress of the thirteenth day of September last: that is to say, upon condition that the territory so ceded shall be laid out and formed into States containing a suitable extent of territory, not less than one hundred, nor more than one hundred and fifty, miles square, or as near thereto as circumstances will admit; and that the States so formed shall be distinct republican States, and admitted members of the Federal Union, having the same rights of sovereignty, freedom and independence, as the other States. [Here a provision was inserted reserving certain tracts of land]

And whereas the said General Assembly, by their resolution of June 6th, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, had constituted and appointed us, the said Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and James Monroe, delegates to represent the said Commonwealth in Congress for one year from the first Monday in November then next following, which

resolution remains in full force: Now, therefore, know ye, that we, the said Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and James Monroe, by virtue of the power and authority committed to us by the act of the said General Assembly of Virginia before recited, and in the name, and for and on behalf of the said Commonwealth, do, by these presents, convey, transfer, assign, and make over unto the United States, in Congress assembled, for the benefit of said States, Virginia inclusive, all right, title, and claim, as well of soil as of jurisdiction, which the said Commonwealth hath to the territory or tract of country within the limits of the Virginia charter, situate, lying, and being to the northwest of the river Ohio, to and for the uses and purposes, and on the conditions of the said recited act. In testimony whereof, &c. &c.

C No. 7.

Extracts from the Cession from the State of Massachusetts, April 19th, 1785.

And whereas the said General Court, on the 17th day of June, in the aforesaid year of our Lord 1784, did nominate and appoint the aforesaid Samuel Holton, and on the third day of November following, the aforesaid Kufus King, delegates to represent the said Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Congress of the United States of America, for one year, from the first Monday in November, in the said year 1784, which appointment remains in full force. Now, therefore, know ye, that we, the said Samuel Holton and Rufus King, by virtue of the power and authority to us committed by the said acts of the General Government of Massachusetts before recited, in the name, and for and on behalf of the said Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do by these presents, assign, transfer, quit-claim, cede, and convey to the United States of America, for their benefit, Massachusetts inclusive, all right, title, and estate, of and 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 said Massachusetts Bay, situate and lying within the following line; that is to say, a meridian line to be drawn from the 45th deg. of north latitude, through the westerly strait 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 shall not comprehend twenty miles due west, from the most westerly bend or inclination of the river or strait of Niagara, then we do, by these presents, by virtue of the power and authority, in the name and on behalf of the said Commonwealth of Massachusetts, transfer, quit-claim, cede, and convey to the United States of America, for their benefit, Massachusetts inclusive, all right, title and estate, of and 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 45th deg. of north-latitude, through a point twenty miles due west, from the most westerly bend or inclination of the river or strait of Niagara, thence by the same 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, and to the uses in a resolve of Congress, of the 10th day of October, 1780. In testimony whereof, &c. &c.

C No. 8.

Extract from the Cession from the State of Connecticut, September 14, 1786.

Whereas the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, on the second Thursday in May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, passed an act in the following words, viz: Be it enacted, by the Governor, Council, and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the delegates of this State, or any two of them, who shall be attending the Congress of the United States, be, and they are hereby directed, authorized, and fully empowered, in the name and behalf of this State, to make, execute, and deliver under their hands and seals, an ample deed of release and cession, of all the right, title, interest, jurisdiction, and claim, of the State of Connecticut, to certain western lands, beginning at the completion of the forty-first degree of north latitude, one hundred and twenty miles west of the western boundary line of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as now claimed by said Commonwealth, and from thence by a line drawn north, parallel to, and one hundred and twenty miles west of the said west line of Pennsylvania, and to con'tinue north until it comes into forty-two degrees and two minutes north latitude. Whereby all the right, title, interest, jurisdiction and claim, of the State of Connecticut, to the lands lying west of the said line to be drawn as aforementioned, one hundred and twenty miles west of the western boundary line of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as now claimed by said Commonwealth, shall be included, released and ceded to the United States in Congress assembled, for the common use and benefit of the said States, Connecticut inclusive. Now, therefore, know ye, that we, the said Samuel William Johnson, and Jonathan Sturges, by virtue of the power and authority to us committed by the said act of the General Assembly of Connecticut, before recited, in the name and for and on behalf of the said State of Connecticut, do by these presents assign, transfer, quit-claim, cede and convey to the United States of America, for their benefit, Connecticut inclusive, all the right, title, interest, jurisdiction and claim, which the said State of Connecticut hath in and to the before mentioned and described territory or tract of country, as the same is bounded and described in the said act of Assembly, for the uses in the recited act of Assembly declared. In witness whereof, &c. &c.

C No. 9.

Extract from resolution of Congress, 23d April, 1784.

Resolved, That so much of the territory ceded by individual States to the United States, as is already purchased, or shall be purchased, of the Indian inhabitants, and offered for sale by Congress, shall be divided into

distinct States in the following manner, as nearly as the cessions will admit: that is to say, by parallels of latitude, so that each State shall comprehend from north to south two degrees of latitude, beginning to coupt from the completion of forty-five degrees north of the equator, and by meridians of longitude, one of which shall pass through the lowest point of the rapids of Ohio, and the other through the western cape of the mouth of the Great Kanhaway; but the territory eastward of this last meridian, between the Ohio, Lake Erie, and Pennsylvania, shall be one State, whatsoever may be its comprehension of latitude: that which may be beyond the completion of the 45th degree, between the said meridians, shall make part of the State adjoining it on the south; and that part of the Ohio which is between the same meridians, coinciding nearly with the parallel of 39 degrees, shall be substituted so far, in lieu of that parallel, as a boundary line. That the settlers on any territory so purchased and offered for sale, shall, either on their own petition, or on the order of Congress, receive authority from them, with appointments of time and place, for their free males of full age, within the limits of the State, to meet together for the purpose of establishing a temporary government, to adopt the constitution and laws of any one of the original States; so that such laws, nevertheless, shall be subject to alteration by their ordinary Legislature; and to erect, subject to a like alteration, counties, townships, or other divisions, for the election of members for their Legislature.

That when any such State shall have acquired twenty thousand free inhabitants, on giving due proof thereof to Congress, they shall receive from them authority, with appointments of time and place, to call a convention of representatives to establish a permanent constitution and government for themselves.

C No. 10.

Friday, July 7, 1786. Congress assembled: present as before.

Congress took into consideration a report of a grand committee, to whom, among other things, was referred a motion of Mr. Monroe, respecting the cessions of western territory, and forming the same into States, and the committee having submitted that it be

Resolved, "That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the States of Massachusetts and Virginia, to take into consideration their acts of cession, and revise the same, so far as to empower the United States in Congress assembled, to make such division into States of the ceded lands and territory, as the situation of the country and future circumstances may require; with this limitation and condition, however, that all the territory of the United States, lying northwest of the river Ohio, shall be formed into a number of States, not less than two, nor more than five, to be admitted into the confederacy on the principles and in the forms heretofore established and provided."

A motion was made by Mr. Grayson, seconded by Mr. Lee, to postpone the consideration of the same, in order to take up the following:

"That it be recommended to the States of Virginia and Massachusetts, so to alter their acts of cession, as that the States in the western territory may be bounded as follows: There shall be three States between the Ohio and a line running due east from the Mississippi to the eastern boundary