Tennessee v. Virginia

Background

The States of Tennessee and Virginia were involved in a long-running dispute over their common border. The Court reviewed an original bill filed by Tennessee, Virginia’s answer, Tennessee’s reply, and prior records including a decree from April 3, 1893. The boundary in question was set by a compact of 1803 and originally run and marked between White Top Mountain and Cumberland Gap. That early line was locally known as the “diamond line” because it was marked with five diamond-shaped chops, but time and lost monuments made the line obscure and prompted the present proceedings.

Reasoning

After examining the pleadings and the record, the Court declared that the compact of 1803 established the real, certain, and true boundary between the two states. The Court appointed three commissioners — one each from Massachusetts, Virginia, and Tennessee — to ascertain, retrace, re-mark, and reestablish that same diamond line, expressly forbidding them from creating any new boundary. The commissioners are empowered to organize their work, take evidence (with notice to the states and ordinary rules followed), place durable monuments, and return a full report and costs to the Court by the next term.

Real world impact

The practical outcome is a court-ordered survey and re-marking that should restore a clear state boundary for residents, landowners, and officials along the line. The commissioners must place permanent marks so people can find the boundary, and the States of Tennessee and Virginia will split all costs equally, including commissioner pay not exceeding ten dollars per day. The Chief Justice may appoint replacements if vacancies arise while the Court is out of session. The decree is an authoritative, court-enforced directive to fix and preserve the historic line.