The New York Packet

PHILADELPHIA, December 21.

Some paragraphs lately appeared in the papers of the different parts of this continent, setting forth with great confidence, that a treaty was on the tapis between the Court of Madrid and Congress, the object of which was a relinquishment, for a limited time, on the part of America, of her right of the navigation of the river Mississippi, in return for which Spain was to confer many commercial advantages on the Americans, who were to be considered on the footing of the most favoured nation. In consequence of this report the inhabitants of the western parts of Virginia presented a memorial against the relinquishment, to the Legislature of that state, at their last session, who had thereupon the following proceedings:

In the HOUSE OF DELEGATES, Wednesday November 29, 1786.

"THE House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, on the state of the Commonwealth; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Matthews reported, that the Committee had, according to order, again had the state of the Commonwealth under consideration, and had come to several resolutions thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were again twice read, and agreed to by the House, as followeth:

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the copy of the memorial of sundry inhabitants of the western country, ought to be forthwith transmitted to the Delegates representing this state in Congress.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the common right of navigating the river Mississippi, and of communicating with other nations through that channel, ought to be considered as the bountiful gift of nature to the United States, as proprietors of the territory watered by the said river and its eastern branches; and as, moreover, secured to them by the event of the late revolution.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the confederacy having been formed on the broad basis of equal rights in every part thereof, to the protection and guardianship of the whole, a sacrifice of the rights of any one part, to the supposed or real interests of another part, would be a flagrant violation of justice, a direct contravention of the end for which the federal government was instituted, and an alarming innovation in the system of the union.

"Resolved, therefore, as the opinion of this Committee, that the Delegates representing this State in Congress, ought to be instructed in the most decided terms, to oppose any attempt that may be made in Congress, to barter or surrender to any nation whatever, the right of the United States to the free and common use of the river Mississippi; and to protest against the same as a dishonorable departure from that comprehensive and benevolent policy, which constitutes the vital principle of the confederacy; as provoking the just resentments and reproaches of our western brethren, whose essential rights and interests would be thereby sacrificed and sold; as destroying that confidence in the wisdom, justice and liberality of the federal councils, which is so necessary at this crisis, to a proper enlargement of their authority; and finally, as tending to undermine our repose, our prosperity, and our union itself: and that the said Delegates ought to be further instructed to urge the proper negociations with Spain, for obtaining her concurrence in such regulations, touching the mutual and common use of the said river, as may secure the permanent harmony and affection of the two nations and such as the wise and generous policy of his Catholic Majesty will perceive to be no less due to the interests of his own subjects, than to the justice and friendly views of the United States."