7656. RIVERS, Right of navigation.—
The movements of the King of Prussia to
emancipate the navigation of the Vistula, and
of the Emperor [of Germany] to free that of
the Scheld do not, I believe, threaten the
peace of Europe. * * * This assertion, then,
of the natural right of the inhabitants of the
upper part of a river to an innocent passage
through the country below is pleasing to us.
It tends to establish a principle favorable to
our right of navigating the Mississippi.—
To Governor Benj. Harrison.
Ford ed., iii, 414.
(A.
March. 1784)
