NAVIGATION
OF THE
VMISSI S I P P L
Cc.xcx-ssof the United SrtTESi
In Senate, May the ljtK, 1794.
Mr. Eli fourth, from the Committee
to whom was referred certain refwluti
ons moved for the 15th of April lad by
the Senators of Kentucky relating to
the navigation of the Miffifippi, and
trie negotiation- at the court of Spain,
reported,
" That ;n the negociation now car
rying on at Madrid between the United
States and Spain, the right of" ihtf for-
7 lcr , t .° '' le f ree navigation ofthe miffi
fippi is well asserted and
an<l their claim to its enjoyment is pur
fueu with the afiiduity and firmnefs
which the magnitude ofthe objedt de
mands, and will doubtless continue ( 0
be so pursued until the objett (hall be
obtained, or adverse circumllances ren
der the further progress of the negocia
tion iinptadlicable. Fliat in the pre
sent llate of the business it would be im
proper in Congress to interfere. But
in order to f.itisfy the citizens of the
United States moi e immediately inter
filed in the event of this negociation,
that the United Stites have uniformly
asserted their right to the free life ofthe
navigation of the river Miffifippi ; and
have employedand now continue to pur
sue luch meafureg as are best adapted
to obtain the enjoyment of this impor- '
taAt teiritorial right, the committee ,
recommend that it be. <
, " Resolved by the Senate, That the 1
Prefiderit of the United States be, and 1
he is ha eby requelled to cause to be 1
communicatefl to the executive of the a
(late of Kentucky, such pait ofthe ex- |
i fling negoeiation between the United f
Statesntid Spain relative to this fubjedl a
as he may deem ddvifeable, and ccnfift- b
ent with the courfc of negociation."
And the report was adopted. b
Ordered, That the secretary lay a v
copy of this proceeding before the Pie-
fidenr of the United States. .
Attest, ' tc
Sam. A. Otis, Secretary. S]
m
In pursuance of the Resolution of the Se- th
hate, the President of the United States sent I pi
• a'fyecial nieffenger to Kentucky, to detail a th
f..ithful hiftcry of the Negociation pending ve
between the United Spates and the Court of a£
Madrid, refpeding the Navigation of the H
Miffifippi. te]
The following is a Letter from Jam,, Inn,,, ™
Esq. the Commifiioner on this otcafion, to de'
his Excellency Ifuac Sic.'iy, Governor of P r .'
Kentucky. |
Stale of Kentucky, Franclfort, Feb. 15, ' ric
>795' tef
Sm,
I was duly honored with your favor ? 0 '
ofthe 21 (I of January, in answer to '? E
mine ofthe 16th ofthe fame month,
and in conformity to the plan I took do*
the liberty tofuggeft, which you have but
been plcafed to approve—! (hall now the
proceed to make to you the communi- off
cations wi;h which 1 am charged. ft 'P
so preferring to public view, the o- pr °
tigrn and progress of the negociation
•now depending between the United, alar
States of America And the court of Ma- the
drid, refpeftingthe navigation ofthe th «
Miffifippi, it may not be irrelevant, to dert
take a rctrofpe&ive survey of the con- pedi
duct of the fpanilh government, tow
ards the United States, at that peri
od of their late war with Englaad, pofn
when the American revolution began fent<
more interestingly to at trad theattenti- not
on of the nations «f Europe By re . on tl
voting to that jiinflure of our affairs, ™ en ,
it will icadily occur to every recclietling •,
mind, that the condua ofthe Spanish
court was more hike-warm, and distant navi,
towards the American states. than that time
of any European power who from p, i„. to th
ciples of long eKablifhed enmity and ablc
rivalfliip, was equally inteterted in the mufl
difmemherment, and confeqiient debili 7''
ty of the British empire—and altho'
under the famsiyTofflpfliS of the house fed e
of Bourbon, that nation, in 1778, en . Ame
tered into the war against England, as t't' or
the ally and afforiat-of France, yet'fhe C
made no formal recognition of the in
dependence ofthe United States ; and fa"'
neither in the origin, or termination «f diflio
the war did (hr f«em to pay the lead re- whic
gard to tVe political interefli of (ronfe- progi
derated America. Whether this cold iolne
condudt 011 the part ofSpain, proceeded
from the difeordaney of the principles ?
of her government, from those which "hew
produced <mr revolution, and the prox- wliicl
tmity of our chartered boundaries, to much
her poffefiions on this continent ; it Fs ca > 1
not material at this day to enquir. ; fio ?' :
Eut t 1 is 1 believe, i s a fa&, that al- raUon
thong Congrefj kept an agent with | "
corrpetent power?, at the Court of Ma- joe." '
<t"id, .;om a very period of the
late war, y« no padt or *reaty of anv
kir.d, wjs ever entered intobet ween the
3 j two nations.
This refervednefs on the part of the
opam/h nation, and other intimate con
nedtion with France, during the existence
iITLSi °< a monarchical form of government in
that country, rendered the political de
portment of the United States towards
94- the former nation, a matter of delicacv
and importance. By the friendfhip and
mittee alhltance of France, the eftabhlhment of
:i«luti- our independence had been accelerated,
lad by it have he.-n prematurely jeopar
ng to ty a conflict with any nation in Eu
, and r "P e ' (md one at leajl, we may suppose
i;.,,- t.ierewas, pa 11 Ling with eager wishes for
luch an maufpifioiis event to us) on France
wemuft have again relied, for reiteratedaf
r car- liftance. Such being our real political si-
Jnited tuation, immediately after our peace with
e for- England in 1783 —the circumfpedtion and
mifii prwlen'e, which it behoved the councils
rated ° Amcnca ' t0 obfet 've with refpefl to any
« nnr' " ,eahlrc whlc,}) tend in the lmalleft
P"r- degree to (hake the alliance and good un- '
■mnefs derihuding (übfifting between France and !
It df- tlie United Statrs, or even embarrass that i
ue to nation in the Conduct (he was to observe 1
all be tow i arrts her . B f«' ally arid her old friend,
•sren- 7" 1 " V fo'kmgly obvious to every per- r
-,o,.; : , lnn "' ho bears ln "»nd how much the fafety 1
= t -' " and happiness of America, at that early I
P'e- epoch of her independence, rested on the
.e im- the political relations, in which certain
But powers of Europe stood with refpefl to
f the each ot}ler > and to herfelf.
inter- Bat we were relived from this delicate
ition, r fture , of , our a ! Tai !' s > refpea to
»rmlv k r arr,val New-York, the '
Z - Congress, of Don Diego de ?,
>1 the Cardoqui, ,n quality of AmbalTador from i
; and that court, some time in the i'pring of
pur 1785, about two years after the peace at p
ipted 131 I s - fhis gentleman having had his
lrior- 3 " d . 1e J 1 5 c ' and produced his credentials, by '
which U a ppeared, that he was inverted „
with authority to treat with the United
Stales, on the fubjedt of commercial ar
: the rangements; Congress without delay, ap- f
and pointed John Jay, Esq. their secretary ° r
obe . foreign affairs, to enter into the negoci
the ation with him. Being specially enjoined ?!
■ ex- m ? ke r,^ht of the lJ States to „
.ited r . 1° f " ,£ Miffifi PPi- from its £
fouice to the ocean, the leading feature of : n
3je« any treaty, which (lumld be entered into ?
ihlt- between the contracting parties.
This claim of the United States was S r °
brought forward, and pressed, at a
a very early period of the negociation, and "v
„ continued to heprefeutedin different (hapes
• through the whole course of very ! f
lengthy, and tedious tranfatfions, which i
took place between the Congressional and ™
"7- S P ai " (b agents, on the fubjedt of a com
mercial treaty. Mr. Gardquoi received
Se- the anertion of this right with affeiledfur
fent pnae, denied its admiffibilitv as part of
.1 a the contemplated treaty, and'afferted with ; i"'
bng vehemence, that this court would never
■ of assent to its validity on any principles— c
the He invariably manifefted an irritation of t,
temper, whenever our right to the navigat- ;
„„ ° n ot . tne Miff'fippi was urged upon him.
> T his intemperance of the ambaffaJor was !
to deemed symptomatic of thefpirit which I "' P<
of | predominated on that fubjedl at his court, I " eg '
, with which, from the circumstances before 1
hinted at, good policy dilated to Ame- ' wer
[5, , rica, the propriety of observing the Uric- , trea
test harmony. j ed ii
Thus circumftanoed, the American 11 e- !n w
or gociator, resorted to the projea, of ced- fI PP'
to thc exc,u five navigation of ext f
theMiffilippi, for t venty-five years, Vfhich n ''
' was intended to operate, net as an aban- 1 tude
donment of the right of the United States folicl
ve but as a mean to obtain an end, to wit treat
w the recognition of that right, on the part '' and 1
or Spain, afterthe expiration ofthe above d,re(:
nipulated period. 1 know well, that the 1 P ens:
o _ pro'.otal of this measure, is dill fore to the ' the P
recol'edtion of our fellow citizens on the ; ed ' 1
western waters, and that it created great I into <
tl alarms in the minds of the inhabitants of ' milet
a- the Atlantic States alfo—But'in i.arratint; 1 abov<
le t..e mere history of it, let me not be confi- | P ef P £
:o dertd as the defender of its policy, or ex- Oi
1- P s,'. C " c y- J} forms a link, in the chain fifipp
of '"ftoncal fadts, which I stall candidly thern
unfold to your view, and in that spirit of puted
1 can a or, lean aifert to you, that the pro- only,
~ pofitioi, now alluded to, as it stands pre- med
n tented on the records of Congress, was holds
not intended togenerate a renunciation but the M
on the contrary an acknowledged eflablifii court
~ ™ enl of the right of the United States, to tation
the free use ofthe Miflif.ppi,upoi, tliis prin- with 1
h f , n ??. am acce P ted this cession procal
t , r td Sta f es > to the exclusive is deel
I T°i , nVer ' for a ft 'P"'ated the fr
' f c , low of their right unequ,
' m nav: ? at:on » followed asan unavoida- ed on t
i For the United States into co
' t°M cd the ri gbt, before they But
- t>,r fr 1 r !t ' an<i the acce ptance of the Mi
' poffeffmn" ?5 kn ° wl , e . d gmen tof the circun:
.si l r tiifcord which this propo- ters, h
led exptd.ent produced in the councils of use of
- America, is too notorious to require repe- and e;
3 of I c n on^fT Plednßtonlsrtheattemion l)a " k «'
' fobVfl g u m , any m€,mhs ' but th f 't. con
' ftatfe/n -, ,J v C V P h >' f ° me of an
' »
:h
deemed"p'roper bv
the whole business of the Spun.ft Yr'eaty" Ittend"
which from the management of it S
much agitated the public mind of Ameri jS ?
ca, ftould he dismissed from farther discus- expe"^
fion, and turned over asan obiedi of mnfj t
ration of the present goverSs
,ca, which had been adopted, and was earlv p
■ ihcn upon the eve of being p u t into afll
! 00. Much about the fame period too, i n Carmic
of the Jcly 1789, Mr. Gardoqui received per- j
of an' minion from hit court, togo back to Spain,
reen the 0,1 bii own P rivate affairs, intending to re- |
turn, to real fume the treaty, as soon as the
of tile new g overnmental system Ihould become
l(e i fully organized, and l>egin its functions,
■xiften - happened, however, that after the
mental' institution of the general government, Mr.
;c ., Gardoqui, the only person empowered by
towards the Spanish fourt* to treat with the Uni
delicacv States, did not according to expeilati
hin a'i 0 "' f° ,,llded on his assurances, return to
nent f mcr ' ca > j n<i the secretary of Itati, who' 1
•lerated W3S a PP°' m ed ' n September 1789, to 1
• 0 e ' whole department, this fpeoes of execo- 1
in En l ' Ve appertained, having not art
f., D (• rived from Frailct, the affair ef the 1
(hes for tl cat * w ' t ' l a '"> coilld not be iminedi- t
r.. ate 'y ailed upon on account of the absence t
' ."'"p °f the relp«dlive agents of the two nati
itiralf ans : y et ""fwithftanding these obstacles, I
C •the xecutive of the United States did not i
U ' J permit our claim to the navLrition of the 0
on and Miffi(ippi t0 6 o
.otinci s Th e nature of the connexions which h
maUrft f'Jbfi (led at this period, between France S
>od un aHt * tbe F n ' ted States, and between France c
" 4 a "d Spain, is well known, and has been p
ifs that a " uded to ' was perfeflly und^rftood
Dbfcrv (^e American government, that altho' w
r 1 , trance favoured the pretensions of Spain lii
v ner- the cxcluflVe navigation of the Miflifip- 01
-fafetv P ' within her own boundaries, yet she fii
eirlv WaS we ',' ' nr '' ne( i to the prosperity of the ei
5n United States, and would wilh to fee an th
ertain extenl ' on our commerce, of the bene- M
rdl to tS w ' l ' c h/ from existing treaties, she te
would probably participate. The court of qi
elicate er ' a .'" es ) therefore, was moved to inter- to
n P"f e 'ts mediatorial influence, to induce
1 , the court of Madrid to acknowledge f 0
,Io de " ur right to the navigation of the Miffi- .1
"from '"Ps" ' and 'his interposition would proba- r
r hl >' have produced efficacious confequen
ace at c"' d not tbe ra P'd progress of the rai
d his , entr ' Rtvolution > which at firft reform- irr
Is bv e a^ erw ardi abolished monarchy, ft!:
ve'fttd CUt a '' '"tercourfe between the two n a
fiiited C< ! urti ' and pl a ced them in a Hate of hof- »k,
ulity to each other. j™
' JD- w as that the re-aflumption V J
■etarv , ®P ai, fh treaty would commence ° .
reoci'- U " the auJ P ices . °f the 'new govern- fit'
lined °" 'his continent, so soon as Mr. ant
tes to ardot l Ll i ftiould return, an event which Sp
n its neV r r ha PP ened ' hi s P'ace in the diploma- f oe
ire of - IC , nC f'. n £ fupp'ied by two gentlemen „.l
in'o 'r ' he i(^er6 Commissioners from
theSpanifh court. By them it was pro- n ! e
was S ' that the £xetutivi °f the United P'Y
at a atcs *"Oiild depute some persons to the con
and co i ur '°f Madrid to revive the negociation I per
laoet W . Mr " Gard °iui was firft authorized ! licrh
very ! in America, altho' the. trans- | of.
hich : thefceneof negociation from Ame- I r
and nca i°' E E uro P e » was an event which it was I ,
, 0 ", much wifbed could have been avoided, a- I the
ived mo " g othcr lm P orta nt considerations, on | a,,d
fur- acco l u , nt of the inevitable delay which it | fchi
would occasion; yet the proposition was I witl
with i ITtTh e'ofed with. To give dif- on ,
ever P thls hufinefs > the agents to exe- r „f
s _ l . lte 11 were a ppointed in Europe. Mr. £
lof XT - J °n r m . mifter > resident at the Seven ,
R at- Proylnces > with Mr. Carmichacl, ed "
dm ; c Ur des 4ff»'rv, at the court of i
P 2l "' W ' ere a PP o ' n ted Commissioners Pie- fartl
'<■" i SSSS- 10,hi - »"
urt ' ' . . cept
fore ' he 'eading principles by which they com
, ne . ] were to be governed in the renewal of this „f Hi
ric- , reaty, were amply and forcibly delineat- t „ 1
ed in the inftruflions which they received, , d
"e- w ." c ' l our right to navigate the Miffi- c
ed- ; "PP 1 y" om its source to the ocean, and the
of j" l ' ,e fonthern boundary of the parti
; ch United States, to the 31ft degree of lati- ciatic
ln " 1 filM n °A j 0 J- t iV qUator ' reflin g °n two cone
(es and diftina foundations, to wit, The r _ .
'it. | treat, " °, f Pans of 1763, and of 1782-3 ; J'
art and the laws of nature and nations were '
, ve j direaed to b«- infilled upon, as the indif- cure
:he : P cn ' ablc prelimm a nes and Jiriequa nons to ,m P°
i- e tl ' e Pf°P° f<:d treat y- It is farther enjoin- «ppli'<
hC i int' ft « n?r ,rCaty Wh ' Ch may be ente red mas
•at '!? eve . r > r oth er refpea, be Ik Hem
D f | mitet in its duration ; but in regard to the f nr ,u
above two articles, it lhall be final and .
si- ' perpetual. and q
X ~ ! fir° Ur r ight to the na vigation of the Mis- tCd '
m fifippi, from its feurce to where our sou-
ly thern bouhdary ftnkes it, cannot be dif
of pu ed. It is from that point downwards f° r
Kq 5 exc ' uflve navigation is clai- weigh
T t pam ! that '• to %. where she the A
" t\° M t n- e r C ° Untry on both fldes - Leaving I onrl
us the Mrffifippi in thu Jlatufm, theSpanifh rir
" = o " rt 1115 would, without he£
° 'u n 'v er ix er mto co,r| mercial regulations most '
1- with the United States, 011 terms of reci- dnd >
•e fsTcli^ efitt ° bothnationS:buttha t!t
H L f on r° U c rpart ' u,ltil • < Sr right to fairs 0
d the free use of the Miflifippi /hall be most -r. 2
•t ""Wwlly acknowledged, and eflabli/h C
1- 'd on pnuapUi never UrLfnr to be dr£~ n
s mte contejlatitn. vened.
Y f the ß M,^V he ' I,ere , nakedH 6 htto navigate to th(
heMiffifippi uould not,from the peculiar Sflort
e -umftanccs attending the wefte'rn wa- not.nl
f D :;Sf£Xfo i r , ' withoutti ' e theai <
■ Z\ tX TT' mnh f ° me
1 ! s 0 that river about the mouVnf
■ ersTelnft 8 fl 0 !, hefca ~ ,heCommlm on- t"
' chaff t0 endeav oiir to pur- Stat "'
i the Unhrrl°<i! erw ? obtain . on account of At
fition £T''? a fa,e and P ro per po- state oi
■ "ght of foil, in as much land to afle
1 » w,» ,„ (w „ , hM » .«<
at theH^° CUm " tS r^uiring our Re <".dent '° be C
at the Hague to repair to Madrid, in the nct y o:
capacity ot Commissioner Plenipotentiary ,rou ' (
/ r- rP ° f r bef ° re stated ' having been We ha
attended in their transmission with confi- which
derahle and very unfortunat. delav k" Z
did not arrive at that citv as fo.n L' " a PP'ni
• expend which confequemly retarded "l'
the revival of the negociation. Mr. Short o "®' '
• h °r Ver '/T hcd the S P anish in the son to !
ly part of 1793 ; from which period ment f
m co-operanon with his afTociate, Mr refoheci
Carm.chael, the most unce,fir.g Worts As 1
per- I have been made by ther, to obtain the
;o Spain, obje<ft of their million.
njftore- f There was a season finte the re-com
mas the fneficement of this negociation, when the
become Spaijilh and Englilh nations seemed to be
mdlions. 011 the verge of hostilities, in which it
ifter the was hoped that the former, from motives
cnt, Mr. of policy and felf-intereft, (that most pre- 1
'ered by dominant motive with nations) would I
lie Uni- have been induced to have done an a<£V of |
ipeilati- jullice, by restoring to the United States - c
eturn to an cnem.birrafied participation in the ufe_ t
t4, who' of the Miiiifippi. but this profpeifl of |
to discord was but of a lhort duration; a a
execn- compromise of all disputes took place be- !
not ar- tween those two courts, and Spain allied ■ e
ef the with England, soon beca me parties in the a
ininedi- confederacy of del'pots agaiull the liber- ||
absence ties of France.
0 nati- The political connexion existing at pre
illacles, sent between Spain and England, will npt,
did not it may be apprehended, be an advantage
of the ous event to our negociation at the court e
of the former: for, I believe it has rarely w
which happened, that the interests of the United ai
France States have been remarkably patronized in p ,
France countries where Britilb influence has pre
is been ponderated.
-rftood Notwithstanding the embarraffinents
: altho' which it was feared a combination of po- c '
Spain litical incidents in Europe would produce, °1
[ifiifip- our Commissioners \frere unremittingly as- at
r et she fiduous in pressing the Spanish ministry to f 0
of the enter fully into the leading principles of
fee an the negociation which they had come to
: bene- Madrid for the purpose of reviving. As- ea
:s, she ter some ceremonious delay, Mr. Gardo- P r
>urtof qui was re-appointed by the Spanish court °b
inter- to re-commence this business. Un
nduce The AmericancommifTieners brought cy
irir e • f ° rwaic ' our c ' alm to navigation of Sp
jroba- f ' le I PP' aad '^ e extent of our vie
quen- out^crn boundary, sustained by a me- mc
if the raor 'al, replete with well arranged and pir
form- irrefragable arguments, drawn from the > It
irchy, stipulation of treaties, and the laws of are
. two nature and nations. To this memorial
b °f the Spanish agent did not return an an- pre
ption wer ' and of the merits foil
aence l ' le a bove niemorial, though not po- ope
vern- fitively denied, yet ,has been cautiously this
Mr. and rather vexatioufly avoided, by the am
/hich Spann'h miniller, by resorting to every ran:
oma- species of evafio* and procraftfnation, fede
?mcn i«ii • * j
from w . e P om P ous P a,ade and ceremo- or
pro- mes European courts can readily flip- Um
aited
| ply. This unwarrantable and dilatory jI b<
1 the j condudt of the court of Spain was f(>on int.e
''ion j perceived, and considered in its proper in t
| lijjht, by the executive of the United righ
t States, whose determination it had been the!
was I rom t ' ,e to puifue our claim to will
], a- \ tl,e Miflifippi with temper, yet frmnefs ; ftroi
,on 1 and t0 P rev ent, if possible, an abrupt will
:h it 1 schism of a negociation, which had been t« fl
was ■ with so much difficulty re-introduced navi
d 'i- on the tapis, until every pp'nciple of ed. '
reason, and argument appendanf to it, I
■ven lou ' d fairly difcufled and exhaust- righ
.acl, ed - T
tof 1° order, therefore, to cut off all the
Pie- farther retardments which might origi. ellsb
ant nate from ceremonies, and formal ex on tf
ceptions, flowing from the alleged in and
hey competency of powers, and the dignity natui
this of diplomatic office, it was determined what
ed to Afpatch an envoy extraordinary to right
iffi- l J' e court °f Madrid, most unexccption- tiiron
the al 'y and copiously authorised in every lantic
the particular, to bring this tedious nego- the a
>ti- ciation to an end. To effed this, the ing a
concurrence of the Senate was neceffa- miglv
n* ry, which was at that time not in feffi- motiv
jre 011 ' the executive, anxious to pro- eonfic
I if- cure ,n tima * P m per character for so tional
t0 important an undertaking, caused an rfients
in- application to be made firft to Mr. Tho- Unioi
td mas Jefferfon, and next to Mr. Patrick lajl n,
r (two citizens equally illuftiious Tnd vi
nd , , e r lr P atr ' ot,fm and great talents, ed rig
and slfo well known to be warmly devo- But
if. 1 t0 l ' le P ro sperity of the western ar e im
u- )to enter u P on this embassy. et " ,lle
lf . Tbey having both declined this office, u , Tb<
ds .the fake of expedition, among other
.1- weighty considerations, Mr. Pincknev, w ai nc
ie the American mmifter at the court of al rcve
g i.ondon, has been ordered to hold hi m - duties
lelt m a state of preparation to repair benefit
|( most expeditioufly to the <;ourt of Ma- reridin ;
I. drid, who, it is probable, is at this tat if"'
it moment occupied in the arduous as- r '"
0 fair* of the Spanifl, treaty, as his pow- ApJl"
ft ers only waited for the fanflion of the bulky i
„ na ,te, ha « been long lince con- the Ai
vened. His inftrudions will be similar ' urn <fe
e to those given to the commissioners, fearncn
r Short and Carmichael. He -will finis W 1
.. not only our rights, but will derive all
s coll", // T ■ Wh '" hma y°rife tranfma
collaterally from the events of the present ainidll
f bur ope, or any injuencc -which that m
. °! cr ""umjlances may give to the United which >
States. men w<
f At this distance, and in our present
- Jate of information, it will be difficult 'a"
1 to assert, what may be the immediate pecu" ia"
cent of this negotiation, which seems of the 1
t to be capable of affeded by a va- a purfcr
■ rlct y °' contingencies beyond the con- navigati
' , ° f thc American government ould P
i We have indisputable right on our fide b , ew,lciei
• M it is much to be wished for th^
, 8 . ? mankind, Ihould always interell,
rm teiuleof decision amongst nati- gation o
onj. H u t perhaps there is much rea- m °n cai
, 'on to lament, that in the old Rovern- etber r 'f
ment of the world, right is too often £be P r
, rejrived into power. inewn, s
As a young nation, just taking our
tain the stand among the empires of the world
before we have arrived to that matunTv
re-com- offtmjgth and v | a ,}* {
?hen the ,•? ° ' ' c " 3 1 J
d to be erents promvfe we (h ,11 ik, c .
i'hich it dll 7 atta,n » 11 has been deemed the *if er
motives policy, rather to eliabhtli our rights hy
10ft pre- negociation, than bv a prematu.c relort
would to the ultimo ratio : the rirft beincr a
d sStes IVu m ° re CCrta, ' n m ° dc of red !
the use a^, fuC r h T a " " nc « lhe situation
pea of" ot lh } c Vi"' 1 hla,Cs la >' s under
tion; a a " a,mo 't permanent neceflity to observe
ace be- the temporary abftinei.ee from the ex
n allied ercife of a tight, which at this period
sin the a combinat.on of political evenls , e „ () '
: * l P rudcnt for us to observe, can never
at pre- be ,mo a dcreh'dion of , hat
■ill npt, "o
antage- re 18 man who will cast hi»
e court e yes on the immense and fertile v?,l c .
rarely which border on the western water.
United and mark the rapid pr„ g , cfs ,
as pre- P°P ulat,on ' and all the „fei
P ful arts .re making among t hem,
Gnents c f n mome "t doubt, but that these
of po- channels, which Ixnefiecwt nature has
oduce, opened for tbe diffufron of the Wr'
?ly as- abundance of all the necefTaries and C L*
ftry to forts of life, yielded by these h-.pp v re"
me to g '°" S ' "Tf ,he K°T the
Af _ earth, mujt be applied to their great
lardo- P ro%, dentiai end : notwflhftanding the
court obftruiStions at present prapofed by- an
unjutt, narrow, and short-sighted po]j.
>ught cy. _ It ''s an event wl)ich ,| R , intevefl >jf
in of opam herfelf desiderates, could foe but
our view that interett through the proper
me- medium, ft is an event which the hap
and pines. of the human spec.eg requires
n the, It is an event in which the United State*,
ivs of are all interelted.
onal lam well aware of the jealous ap
i an- prehenuons which are entertained, that
erits some Hates in the Union ate a»erfe to
t po- opening the navigation of the Mifiillppi •
mfly this jealousy, as it extends to Hates, /
the am confident, embraces too extenfjve a
very range. For little minded, local, ami.
ion, federal politicians, who ihfeft, in a greater
mo- or lmaller degree, every date in the
sup- Union, I w ;ij not |j C aufwelabfe ; y et
tory I belicte 1 may fs.ft.lv affirm, that the'
"oon int.erefts of the Union at large, coincide
>per in the eltablifomem of this important
ited f'ght ; and that to whatever ohj«&
>een their interests point, their government
i to will endeavor to attain. There are two
fs } strong political confident ions, which
upt will ,mpel the United St« cs , conjoint!*
' een t« struggle without ceasing. until the
ced navigation of the Mifiifippi ; 8 obtain .
of ed.
it, I mean tbe principles of national
lilt- right and intertll.
The right of the United States to
all the navigation of the Miffifcppi u;,, ,
gi eltabljfhed, as it moil incontettably isj,
ex- on the double bafisof political compadis*
in and the titles derived from the law* of
ity "ature aid nations, I know not, on
led what more fubllantial ground reft their
to rights to navigate the waters pouring
>n- through their territories into the At
:ry lantic ocean. To relign one right to
•o- p' ie arm of P''vet, woulj be eflarJifo
he ing a precedent, by which their others
la- might be claimed and taken : all the
li- motives, therefore, flowing from the
o- eonfideration of political fafety, and na
(o tional pride, aided by fratei '.al incite
an ments would (limulate every state in the
o- Union, to mpke one cause, when the
k tajl nrcjjity Jhall demand it, to reclaim
us and vindicate this fuipended and violat
s, ed right.
o- But the interests of the Atlantic states
are involved in the unimpeded navigation
et the Miffifippi, on two principles.
e The refulrs of the exportsthrough the
' Western waters will, with a very lew ex
"T captions, come into their ports, which
'' not 0:l ly greatly augmsnt the nation
it al revenue accruing from the import and
duties on imported articles, but will be
ir beneficial alio to merchants, and others,
residing at the particular ports of impor
tation.
Brfides, the tranfpertatien of the com
modities of the country on this fide the
Apalachian mountains, which will be
e bulky in their nature, to the markets in
i. the American and European seaS, wilt
r lurnilh considerable employment to the
seamen and ships, of the maritime slates,
which it will be the interelt ot the western
I merchants rather to employ than to at- ,
tempt the building of velTels proper for
e transmarine voyages on their own wattrs,
t ainidft the almost infufferable difficulties
? that must attend ftich an undertaking,
j w-hich, if even pradbcable, neceftary sea
men would be wanting, who are al*'avs
t scarce in countries whete lands aie fertile
t abundant, and eatily to be acquired.
In addition to this eonfideration, the
: peculiar nature of the inland navigation
i of the western waters, will never hirnifli
ajiuiicry for sailors. The moss expert
. navigator of the waters of the Ohio.
would find himfdlf perfedllv hrlplefs and
twildered on the detp and hoifteroHi
elements of the ocean.
1 he principles of national policy and
interest, thus combining to make the navi
gation of the Miffifippi as mych the comt
mon cause of the United States, as any
other right they pofirfs, it ought naturally
to be presumed, nutty the reverf,- (hall he
lhewn, ?nd I never can be
one. that tr.at right has nei f her ever bfn,
i nor '' vtr will be abandoned'or ne^leiflcd.