Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Blount to Benjamin Hawkins et al.
Blount, William, 1749-1800
November 22, 1785
Volume 17, Pages 578-579

-------------------- page 578 --------------------
MAJ. WM. BLOUNT TO BENJAMIN HAWKINS, ANDREW PICKENS, JOSEPH MARTIN AND LACKLAN McINTOSH, COMMISSIONERS, APPOINTED TO TREAT WITH THE CHEROKEES AND ALL INDIANS SOUTHWARD OF THEM WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE UNITED STATES.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Hopewell on Keeowee, Nov. 22d, 1785.
Gentlemen:

Having yesterday had the Honor to lay before you my Commission appointing me Agent on the part of the State of North Carolina. I now consider it my duty to lay before you the following Extract from the Constitution of that State which was agreed to in full Convention at Halifax on the eighteenth day of December Anno Domini, 1776. “The property of the soil in a free government being one of the essential rights of the collective body of the people, it is necessary, in order to avoid future disputes, that the limits of the State should be ascertained with precision; and as the former temporary line between North and South Carolina was confirmed and extended by Commissioners appointed by the Legislatures of the two States agreeable to the Order of the late King George the second in Council, that line, and that only, should be esteemed the Southern Boundary of this State, as follows: That is to say, beginning on the Seaside at a Cedar Stake at or near the Mouth of Little river, being the Southern extremity of Brunswick County, and running from thence, a Northwest course through the Boundary House, which stands in thirty-three degrees fifty-six minutes to the thirty-fifth degree of North latitude; and from thence a west course so far as is mentioned in the Charter of King Charles the Second, to the late proprietors of Carolina. Therefore all the territory, Seas, Waters and Harbours with their appurtenances lying between the line above described and the Southern line of the State of Virginia, which begins in the Sea Shore in thirty-six degrees, thirty minutes North latitude, and from thence runs West, agreeable to the said Charter of King Charles, are the right and property of the people of this State, to be held in sovereignty,” and to remind you that the year after the formation and publication of the

-------------------- page 579 --------------------
aforesaid Constitution the State of North Carolina entered into and signed the Articles of Confederation by which she has not given up to the United States any part of the soil described in the aforesaid Constitution nor the sovereignty thereof.

I have the Honor to be Your most Obedient Humble Servant,
WM. BLOUNT,
Agent for the State of N. Carolina.