She dreaded the mere growth of Virginia in wealth, power, and population in the first place; and in the second she feared lest her own population might be drained into these vacant lands, thereby at once diminishing her own, and building up her neighbor's, importance.

Each State, at that time, had to look upon its neighbors as probable commercial rivals and possible armed enemies.

This is a feeling which we now find difficulty in understanding.

At present no State in the Union fears the growth of a neighbor, or would ever dream of trying to check that growth.

The direct reverse was the case during and after the Revolution; for the jealousy and distrust which the different States felt for one another were bitter to a degree.
The Continental Congress Advocates a Compromise.
The Continental Congress was more than once at its wits' ends in striving to prevent an open break over the land question between the more extreme States on the two sides.