The Daily Advertiser

On Thursday the 12th ult. the navigation of the Mississippi was agitated in the Convention of Virginia. The gentlemen, who are Members of Congress, and then in the Convention, were called upon to give such information as might be satisfactory on that subject. It appeared from those gentlemen's observations to the convention, that Congress had empowered their Minister in Europe to conclude a treaty with the Court of Spain; that the Court of Spain, instead of proceeding on that business in Europe, thought proper to send a Minister to negotiate a treaty in America; that propositions were made to Congress to relinquish their claim to the navigation of the Mississippi for 25 years, on condition of the Court of Spain granting certain indulgences to American vessels in their European ports---However, this proposition was never acceded to by Congress; nor have Congress ever shewn the least disposition to relinquish their right to the navigation of the Mississippi. The Spaniards still keep possession of the navigation of that river, and Congress, from not having sufficient power to enforce their just claim, have thought proper to let it rest, for the present, as the growing wealth of the western country will, in time, render it necessary that the Court of Spain should be more reasonable in their negotiations on that subject.