really putting a period to the war. I think that in this case we
may insist on our full share of the fishery, and the free
navigation of the Mississippi. These are things of very great and
lasting importance to America, the yielding of which will not
procure the Congress thanks either from the present age or
posterity.

I rejoice greatly at the news from South Carolina. God grant it may
be true. If this should force the enemy to reason and to peace,
would you give up the navigation of the Mississippi and our
domestic fishery on the Banks of Newfoundland? The former almost
infinitely depreciating our back country and the latter totally
destroying us as a maritime power. That is taking the name of
independence without the means of supporting it.

I rejoice exceedingly at our successes both in the North and in the
South. If we continue to do thus, it will not be in the power of
the execrable junto to prevent us from having a safe and honorable
peace next winter. In this idea I shall ever include the fisheries
and the navigation of the Mississippi. These, Sir, are the strong
legs on which North America can alone walk securely in
independence.

If you do not get a wise and very firm friend to negotiate the
fishery, it is my clear opinion that it will be lost, and upon this
principle that it is the interest of every European power to weaken
us and strengthen themselves.

I heartily wish you success in your negotiations and that when you
secure one valuable point for us (the fishery) that you will not
less exert yourself for another very important object,--the free
navigation of the Mississippi, provided guilty Britain should
remain in possession of the Floridas.

Fishing as a matter of states' rights resulted in the pioneering
Potomac River Compact of 1785, when representatives of Maryland and
Virginia met under George Washington's sponsorship at Mt. Vernon to
deal with fishing and tolls. Maryland owned the river to the Virginia
shore line, and agreed to allow Virginians to fish in it in return for
free entry of Maryland ships through the Virginia capes. The compact,
in force to this day, was the first step taken in behalf of interstate
commerce. With its example to follow, other states eased the barriers
to their commercial interests, with immeasurable benefit to the Union.

Commercial fishing in Virgini