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Domestic News
August 24, 1793
National Gazette
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
An editorial in the General Advertiser argues for a US treaty with Spain to secure Mississippi River navigation, citing the recent capture of an American vessel built on the Ohio and carrying western produce to Philadelphia. It emphasizes the economic importance of western exports and the growing population's grievances against Spanish restrictions.
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From the General Advertiser,
THE late capture at sea, on her passage to Philadelphia, of the vessel built on the Ohio, within the state of Pennsylvania, owned by citizens of the United States, and whose cargo belonging to American citizens, consists in productions of the growth of this country, demonstrates the evident necessity of a treaty with Spain, respecting the navigation of the Mississippi.
It is a matter of fact, that the lands of the western country are much more luxuriant and fertile than those of the Atlantic parts of the United States; it will follow then that western cultivated lands will afford a larger proportion of produce for exportation than the same quantity of cultivated lands on the eastern side of the mountains; but when we take also into consideration, that most of the western inhabitants are farmers, that there are but few mechanics among them, and that they have no large towns to supply, we will readily admit that the proportion of their produce for foreign market must be still greater. It is very true that the population of the western country is inconsiderable, comparatively with the vast extent of that territory; yet the number of its inhabitants is respectable, and deserve doubtless the attention of the supreme legislature of the Union. The state of Pennsylvania has several populous counties beyond the mountains, whose produce must go to market by the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers down the Ohio and Mississippi. Virginia is in the same situation, as to her possessions on the Ohio and Great Kanawha rivers. The state of Kentucky, which is far from being contemptible for the number of her inhabitants, has no other way to export her produce. The territory north west of the Ohio, comprehending the several settlements of Scioto, Miami, Wabash, and the villages and country of the Illinois, is in the very same predicament: and lastly, the territory south of the Ohio, containing upwards of 50,000 souls, lies altogether on the western waters, and is more conveniently situated than all the others to the navigation of the Mississippi. At a moderate calculation then, we may well estimate half a million of people, mostly farmers, who can export none of their produce, but through the channel of the Mississippi. So great a part of the nation ought not and cannot much longer be neglected.
The pretended exclusive right of Spain to the navigation of the Mississippi is founded on no principle of equity or natural justice.—shall a country of more extent than any of the kingdoms of Europe be debarred of its natural right of sending its produce to sea, because Spain happens to have a small town with a few subjects near the mouth of the Mississippi? How long will Americans submit to the oppression of paying a heavy and degrading tribute to a Spanish officer, for a license (in his power ever to deny) to proceed to sea with their vessel and produce? and under the restriction of making such vessels Spanish bottoms, which subjects them to be seizable by the armed ships of France.—In what a wretched situation these arbitrary proceedings of Spain place our western citizens! If they wish to export their produce, they must not only make use of the most humble solicitations but they are compelled besides to pay a very high duty for the permission of sailing out of the Mississippi under the colours of a foreign nation at war with our allies.—How degrading such restrictions! how humiliating to an American!
It is easy to foresee what will be the consequence, if a treaty be not soon, and very soon, negotiated with Spain.—The western inhabitants, whose number increases daily by the constant emigrations from the Atlantic states, have complained for near ten years past, of the oppression they labour under: but the confidence they had in their delegated rulers, caused them to wait till now, not without impatience, the effects of negotiation; they are a hardy, courageous and enterprising people, and though they entertain the greatest respect for the laws of their country, and though they are much attached to the federal government, yet their favorite axiom in politics is, (a maxim established unanimously in 1776, by the Congress of the United States) that allegiance and protection are reciprocal.
Quousque tandem, Hispania, abuteris Patientia nostra?
X.
THE late capture at sea, on her passage to Philadelphia, of the vessel built on the Ohio, within the state of Pennsylvania, owned by citizens of the United States, and whose cargo belonging to American citizens, consists in productions of the growth of this country, demonstrates the evident necessity of a treaty with Spain, respecting the navigation of the Mississippi.
It is a matter of fact, that the lands of the western country are much more luxuriant and fertile than those of the Atlantic parts of the United States; it will follow then that western cultivated lands will afford a larger proportion of produce for exportation than the same quantity of cultivated lands on the eastern side of the mountains; but when we take also into consideration, that most of the western inhabitants are farmers, that there are but few mechanics among them, and that they have no large towns to supply, we will readily admit that the proportion of their produce for foreign market must be still greater. It is very true that the population of the western country is inconsiderable, comparatively with the vast extent of that territory; yet the number of its inhabitants is respectable, and deserve doubtless the attention of the supreme legislature of the Union. The state of Pennsylvania has several populous counties beyond the mountains, whose produce must go to market by the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers down the Ohio and Mississippi. Virginia is in the same situation, as to her possessions on the Ohio and Great Kanawha rivers. The state of Kentucky, which is far from being contemptible for the number of her inhabitants, has no other way to export her produce. The territory north west of the Ohio, comprehending the several settlements of Scioto, Miami, Wabash, and the villages and country of the Illinois, is in the very same predicament: and lastly, the territory south of the Ohio, containing upwards of 50,000 souls, lies altogether on the western waters, and is more conveniently situated than all the others to the navigation of the Mississippi. At a moderate calculation then, we may well estimate half a million of people, mostly farmers, who can export none of their produce, but through the channel of the Mississippi. So great a part of the nation ought not and cannot much longer be neglected.
The pretended exclusive right of Spain to the navigation of the Mississippi is founded on no principle of equity or natural justice.—shall a country of more extent than any of the kingdoms of Europe be debarred of its natural right of sending its produce to sea, because Spain happens to have a small town with a few subjects near the mouth of the Mississippi? How long will Americans submit to the oppression of paying a heavy and degrading tribute to a Spanish officer, for a license (in his power ever to deny) to proceed to sea with their vessel and produce? and under the restriction of making such vessels Spanish bottoms, which subjects them to be seizable by the armed ships of France.—In what a wretched situation these arbitrary proceedings of Spain place our western citizens! If they wish to export their produce, they must not only make use of the most humble solicitations but they are compelled besides to pay a very high duty for the permission of sailing out of the Mississippi under the colours of a foreign nation at war with our allies.—How degrading such restrictions! how humiliating to an American!
It is easy to foresee what will be the consequence, if a treaty be not soon, and very soon, negotiated with Spain.—The western inhabitants, whose number increases daily by the constant emigrations from the Atlantic states, have complained for near ten years past, of the oppression they labour under: but the confidence they had in their delegated rulers, caused them to wait till now, not without impatience, the effects of negotiation; they are a hardy, courageous and enterprising people, and though they entertain the greatest respect for the laws of their country, and though they are much attached to the federal government, yet their favorite axiom in politics is, (a maxim established unanimously in 1776, by the Congress of the United States) that allegiance and protection are reciprocal.
Quousque tandem, Hispania, abuteris Patientia nostra?
X.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Economic
What keywords are associated?
Mississippi Navigation
Treaty With Spain
Western Exports
Vessel Capture
Spanish Restrictions
Ohio River
Kentucky Produce
Where did it happen?
Western Country Of The United States
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Western Country Of The United States
Event Date
Late Capture
Outcome
vessel and cargo captured at sea
Event Details
The late capture at sea of a vessel built on the Ohio, owned by US citizens, carrying American produce to Philadelphia, underscores the need for a treaty with Spain on Mississippi navigation. The editorial details the fertile western lands, large farming population across Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and territories, estimating half a million people reliant on the Mississippi for exports, and criticizes Spanish restrictions as oppressive and unjust.