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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Resolution by the Virginia General Assembly concerning a canal from Pasquotank River to Elizabeth River
Virginia. General Assembly.
January 19, 1786
Volume 18, Pages 506-507

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RESOLVES OF THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA FOR CUTTING A CANAL FROM PASQUOTANK TO ELIZABETH RIVER.
[From Executive Letter Book.]


In the House of Delegates, 19th Jan., 1786.

Whereas, Commissioners have been appointed by Authority of the General Assembly, to view and examine the most proper situation for a Navigable Canal to be cut thro' the Country lying between the waters of Chesapeake and the river or water Courses which fall into the State of North Carolina, and whereas, it appears from the report of the said Commissioners that the most proper situation for the said Canal will be to begin at a Creek called New Mill Creek, which empties itself into the Southern Branch of Elizabeth river, and from the said Creek to be carried nearly a straight line direction to a pond on the Dismal Swamp commonly called Drummond's pond, and from the said pond to Pasquotank river in the State of North Carolina, and it further appears that the Opening the said Canal will promote an intercourse between the Inhabitants of this State and the Inhabitants of the State of North Carolina equally advantageous to the people of each State, and that there is great reason to believe the said Canal will be opened and made Navigable, and a Sufficient sum of money raised for that purpose by the subscription of private Citizens, if an Act shall pass authoring them to Collect reasonable Tolls on Vessels and Merchandise passing through the said Canal, on terms as nearly similar as Circumstances will permit, to those prescribed by the Laws of this State for opening and extending the Navigation of James and Potomac Rivers, and whereas, the said Canal, if Opened and Carried to the waters of North Carolina, will extend several miles thro' the Territory of the said State, and it therefore becomes necessary to make Applicacation to the said State to grant their Concurrence and aid to such measures as may be deemed proper and necessary to carry the said Design into Execution.

Resolved, therefore, that the Governor of this State shall be and he is hereby empowered, by and with the advice of the Council of State, to take the most speedy and effectual measures to inform the Executive Department of the State of North Carolina that this State

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is willing and desirous to open the said Canal, and to obtain the Concurrence of the said State to the same, and for this purpose the Governor is directed to appoint one or more Commissioners with advice aforesaid to Confer with a Commissioner or Commissioners from the State of North Carolina, if the Legislature of the said State shall authorize the same, respecting the opening the said Canal, and the terms and conditions on which the same shall be held, and the said Commissioner or Commissioners shall be authorized to assure the Commissioner or Commissioners so appointed by the State of North Carolina, that this State having in Contemplation the Continuance and extension of that Friendly intercourse which has ever subsisted between the two States is desirous that all regulations which may be proposed and agreed to respecting the said Canal, and the Vessels or Merchandise which may pass thro' the same, shall be on terms reciprocally advantageous to the said States and to the Citizens thereof, and that this State is desirous to stipulate with the State of North Carolina, that no duties or Customs shall be imposed in either State for the purpose of raising a revenue for the benefit of either of the said States, or any goods, wares or Merchandise which may pass thro' the said Canal, other than the Tolls agreed on to be paid to the persons in whom the property of the said Canal may be vested, and the said Commissioner or Commissioners shall have power to agree with the Commissioner or Commissioners of the State of North Carolina on the form of a Law agreeable to the principles aforesaid to be submitted to the Legislatures of each State, and if the same shall be agreed to by the Legislatures of both States the law shall be perpetual and irrevocable except by the consent of the Legislatures of this State and the State of North Carolina. The Commissioner or Commissioners so appointed by the Executive of this State shall be paid for their services whatever sum the Governor with advice of Council shall direct.

Test:
JOHN BECKLEY, C. H D.

Agreed to by the Senate:

H. BROOKS, C. S.
Test:
JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D.

(A Copy)