194 DAVIS 



provisions in relation to the territory in general and the city of 

 Washington in particular, enacted specifically as follows : 



That all that part of the said territory, called Columbia, 

 which lies within the limits of this state, shall be and the same 

 is hereby acknowledged to be forever ceded and relinquished 

 to the congress and government of the United States, in full 

 and absolute right, and exclusive jurisdiction, as well of soil as 

 of persons residing, or to reside, thereon, pursuant to the tenor 

 and effect of the eighth section of the first article of the con- 

 stitution of government of the United States : Provided, 

 That nothing herein contained shall be so construed to vest in 

 the United States any right of property in the soil, as to affect 

 the rights of individuals therein, otherwise than the same shall 

 or may be transferred by such individuals to the United States : 

 And Provided Also, That the jurisdiction of the laws of this 

 state, over the persons and property of individuals residing 

 within the limits of the cession aforesaid, shall not cease or deter- 

 mine until congress shall by law provide for the government 

 thereof, under their jurisdiction, in manner provided by the 

 article of the constitution before recited. 



Similarly, the State of Virginia, in making cession of its 

 part of the original District enacted : 



That nothing herein contained shall be construed to vest in 

 the United States any right of property in the soil, or to affect 

 the rights of individuals therein, otherwise than the same shall 

 or may be transferred by such individuals to the United States. 



And Provided Also, That the jurisdiction of the laws of this 

 commonwealth over the persons and property of individuals re- 

 siding within the limits of the cession aforesaid, shall not cease 

 or determine vmtil congress, having accepted the said cession, 

 shall, by law, provide for the government thereof, under their 

 jurisdiction, in manner provided by the article of the Constitu- 

 tion before recited. 



As is thus apparent, the acts of Maryland and Virginia pro- 

 vided for the continuance in the two portions of the newly- 

 formed District of the laws of those States respectively until 

 provision should be made by the Congress of the United States 

 for the Government of the District. And when Congress came 

 to deal with the matter, duly observing the rule of international 

 law above noted, and not being ready to make new law in the 

 premises, it enacted as follows on February 27, 1801 (2 Stats. 

 103): 



