9102. WESTERN TERRITORY, Separation from Virginia.—
I suppose some people
on the western waters who are ambitious to
be governors, &c., will urge a separation by
authority of Congress. But the bulk of the
people westward are already thrown into great
ferment by the report of what is proposed, to
which I think they will not submit. This separation
is unacceptable to us in form only, and
not in substance. On the contrary, I may safely
say it is desired by the eastern part of our country
whenever their western brethren shall think
themselves able to stand alone. In the meantime,
on the petition of the western counties, a
plan is digesting for rendering their access to
government more easy.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. i, 316.
Ford ed., iii, 53.
(M.
1782)
