5296. MISSISSIPPI RIVER NAVIGATION, Western people and.—
The difficulty
on which the negotiation with Spain hangs is a
sine qua non with us. It would be to deceive
them and ourselves, to suppose that an amity
can be preserved while this right is withheld.
Such a supposition would argue not only an
ignorance of the people to whom this is most
interesting, but an ignorance of the nature of
man, or an inattention to it. Those who see
but half way into our true interest will think
that that concurs with the views of the other
party. But those who see it in all its extent,
will be sensible that our true interest will be
best promoted, by making all the just claims of
our fellow citizens, wherever situated, our own,
by urging and enforcing them with the weight
of our whole influence, and by exercising in
this, as in every other instance, a just government
in their concerns, and making common
cause even where our separate interest would
seem opposed to theirs. No other conduct can
attach us together; and on this attachment depends
our happiness.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. i, 605.
Ford ed., iv, 262.
(P.
1786)
