Letter from Thomas Jefferson
to George Washington, March
15, 1784
Dear. Sir, -- Since my last nothing new has occurred, I suppose
the crippled state of Congress is not new to you. We have only 9 states
present, 8. of whom are represented by two members each, and of course,
on all great questions not only an unanimity of States but of members is
necessary. An unanimity which never can be obtained on a matter of any
importance. The consequence is that we are wasting our time & labour
in vain efforts to do business. -- Nothing less than the presence of 13.
States, represented by an odd number of delegates will enable us to get
forward a single capital point. The deed for the cession of Western territory
by Virginia was executed & accepted on the 1'st instant. I hope our
country will of herself determine to cede still further to the meridian
of the mouth of the great Kanhaway. Further she cannot govern; so far is
necessary for her own well being. The reasons which call for this boundary
(which will retain all the waters of the Kanhaway) are 1. That within that
are our lead mines. 2. This river rising in N. Carola traverses our whole
latitude and offers to every part of it a channel for navigation &
commerce to the Western Country, but 3. It is a channel which can not be
opened but at immense expense and with every facility which an absolute
power over both shores will give. 4. This river & it's waters forms
a band of good land passing along our whole frontier, and forming on it
a barrier which will be strongly seated. 5. For 180 miles beyond these
waters is a mountainous barren which can never be inhabited & will
of course form a safe separation between us & any other State. 6. This
tract of country lies more convenient to receive it's government from Virginia
than from any other State. 7. It will preserve to us all the upper parts
of Yohogany & Cheat rivers within which much will be done to open these
which are the true doors to the Western commerce. The union of this navigation
with that of the Patowmac is a subject on which I mentioned that I would
take the liberty of writing to you. I am sure it's value and practicability
are both well known to you. This is the moment however for seizing it if
ever we mean to have it. All the world is becoming commercial. Was it practicable
to keep our new empire separated from them we might indulge ourselves in
speculating whether commerce contributes to the happiness of mankind. But
we cannot separate ourselves from them. Our citizens have had too full
a taste of the comforts furnished by the arts & manufactures to be
debarred the use of them. We must then in our defence endeavour to share
as large a portion as we can of this modern source of wealth & power.
That offered to us from the Western Country is under a competition between
the Hudson, the Patowmac & the Missisipi itself. Down the last will
pass all heavy commodities. But the navigation through the gulf of Mexico
is so dangerous, & that up the Missisipi so difficult & tedious,
that it is not probable that European merchandize will return through that
channel. It is most likely that flour, lumber & other heavy articles
will be floated on rafts which will be themselves an article of sale as
well as their loading, the navigators returning by land or in light batteaux.
There will therefore be a rivalship between the Hudson & Patowmac for
the residue of the commerce of all the country Westward of L. Erie, on
the waters of the lakes, of the Ohio & upper parts of the Missisipi.
To go to N. York, that part of the trade which comes from the lakes or
their waters must first be brought into L. Erie. So also must that which
comes from the waters of the Missisipi, and of course must cross at some
portage into the waters of the lakes. When it shall have entered L. Erie
it must coast along it's Southern Shore on account of the number &
excellence of it's harbours, the Northern, tho' shortest, having few harbours
& these unsafe. Having reached Cuyahoga, to proceed on to N. York will
be 970 miles from thence & five portages, whereas it is but 430 miles
to Alexandria, if it turns into the Cuyahoga & passes through that,
Big beaver, Ohio, Yohogany (or Monongahela & Cheat) & Patowmac,
& there are but two portages. For the trade of the Ohio or that which
shall come into it from it's own waters or the Missisipi, it is nearer
to Alexandria than to New York by 730 miles, and is interrupted by one
portage only. Nature then has declared in favour of the Patowmac, and through
that channel offers to pour into our lap the whole commerce of the Western
world. But unfortunately the channel by the Hudson is already open &
known in practice; ours is still to be opened. This is the moment in which
the trade of the West will begin to get into motion and to take it's direction.
It behoves us then to open our doors to it. I have lately pressed this
subject on my friends in the General assembly, proposing to them to endeavor
to have a tax laid which shall bring into a separate chest from five to
ten thousand pounds a year, to be employed first in opening the upper waters
of the Ohio & Patowmac, where a little money & time will do a great
deal, leaving the great falls for the last part of the work. To remove
the idea of partiality I have suggested the propriety & justice of
continuing this fund till all the rivers shall be cleared successively.
But a most powerful objection always arises to propositions of this kind.
It is that public undertakings are carelessly managed and much money spent
to little purpose. To obviate this objection is the purpose of my giving
you the trouble of this discussion. You have retired from public life.
You have weighed this determination & it would be impertinence in me
to touch it. But would the superintendence of this work break in too much
on the sweets of retirement & repose? If they would I stop here. Your
future time & wishes are sacred in my eye. If it would be only a dignified
amusement to you, what a monument of your retirement would it be! It is
one which would follow that of your public life and bespeak it the work
of the same great hand. I am confident that would you either alone or jointly
with any persons you think proper be willing to direct this business, it
would remove the only objection the weight of which I apprehend. Tho' the
tax should not come in till the fall, it's proceeds should be anticipated
by borrowing from some other fund to enable the work to be begun this summer.
When you view me as not owning, nor ever having a prospect of owning one
inch of land on any water either of the Patowmac or Ohio, it will tend
to apologize for the trouble I have given you of this long letter, by showing
that my zeal in this business is public & pure. The best atonement
for the time I have occupied you will be not to add to it longer than while
I assure you of the sincerity & esteem with which I have the honour
to be D'r. Sir Your most obedient & most humble servt.
P. S. The hurry of time in my former letter prevented my thanking you
for your polite & friendly invitation to Mount Vernon. I shall certainly
pay my respects there to Mrs Washington & yourself with great pleasure
whenever it shall be in my power.
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