Sec. 31. Boundaries of the State —That the limits and boundaries of this State be ascertained, it is declared they are as hereafter mentioned—that is to say: Beginning on the extreme height of the Stone Mountain, at the place where the line of Virginia intersects it, in latitude thirty six degrees and thirty minutes north; running thence along the extreme height of the said mountain,, to the place where Watauga River breaks through it; thence a direct course to the top of the Yellow Mountain, where Bright’s road crosses the same; thence along the ridge of said mountain, between the waters of the Doe River and the waters of Rock Creek, to the place where the road crosses the, Iron Mountain; from thence along the extreme height of said mountain, to the place where Nolichucky River runs through the same; thence to the top of the Bald Mountain; thence, along the extreme height of said mountain to the Painted Rock, on French Broad River; thence along the highest ridge of said mountain, to that place where it is called the Great Iron, or Smoky, Mountain; thence along the extreme height of said mountain, to the place where it is called Unicoi. or Unaka, Mountain, between the Indian towns of Oowee and Old Chota; thence along the main ridge of the said mountain, to the southern boundary of this State, as described in the Act of cession of North Carolina to the United States of America; and that all the territory, lands, and waters lying west of said line, as before mentioned, and contained within the chartered limits of the State, of North Carolina, acre within the boundaries and limits of this State, over which the people have the right of exercising sovereignty, and the right of soil, so far as is consistent with the Constitution of the United States, recognizing the Articles of Confederation, the Bill of Rights, and Constitution of North Carolina, the cession Act of the said State, and the ordinance of [“the late ” in Constitution of 1796] Congress for the government of the territory northwest of the Ohio; Provided, nothing herein contained shall extend to affect the claim or claims
of individuals to any part of the soil which is recognized to them by the aforesaid cession Act [the remainder of this section is not in the Constitution of 1796] ; And provided also, that the limits and jurisdiction of this State shall extend to any other land and territory now acquired, or that may hereafter be acquired, by compact or agreement with other States, or otherwise, although such land and territory are not included within the boundaries hereinbefore designated.