8687. UNION (The Federal), Western interests and.—[continued].
This measure [dividing
the Western country into fewer and smaller
States] with the disposition to shut up the
Mississippi, gives me serious apprehensions of
the severance of the Eastern and Western
parts of our confederacy. It might have been
made the interest of the Western States to
remain united with us, by managing their interests
honestly, and for their own good. But,
the moment we sacrifice their interests to our
own, they will see it is better to govern themselves.
The moment they resolve to do this,
the point is settled. A forced connection is
neither our interest, nor within our power.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. ii, 66.
Ford ed., iv, 333.
(P.
Dec. 1786)
