2210 DETROIT, Importance of.—
If the
post at Detroit be reduced we shall be quiet
in future on our frontier, and thereby immense
treasures of blood and money be saved; we shall
be at leisure to turn our whole force to the rescue
of our eastern country from subjugation;
we shall divert through our own country a
branch of commerce which the European States
have thought worthy of the most important
struggles and sacrifices, and in the event of
peace on terms which have been contemplated
by some powers, we shall form to the American
Union a barrier against the dangerous extension
of the British Province of Canada, and
add to the Empire of liberty an extensive and
fertile country, thereby converting dangerous
enemies into valuable friends.—
To General George R. Clark.
Ford ed., ii, 390.
(R.
Dec. 1780)
