ted on with Spain, to wit, that of a nation holding the
upper part of streams, having a right of innocent passage through them
to the ocean. We shall prepare her to see us practise on this, and she
will not oppose it by force.

Objections are raising to the eastward against the vast extent of our
boundaries, and propositions are made to exchange Louisiana, or a part
of it, for the Floridas. But, as I have said, we shall get the Floridas
without, and I would not give one inch of the waters of the Mississippi
to any nation, because I see in a light very important to our peace the
exclusive right to its navigation, and the admission of no nation into
it, but as into the Potomac or Delaware, with our consent and under our
police. These federalists see in this acquisition the formation of a new
confederacy, embracing all the waters of the Mississippi, on both
sides of it, and a separation of its eastern waters from us. These
combinations depend on so many circumstances, which we cannot foresee,
that I place little reliance on them. We have seldom seen neighborhood
produce affection among nations. The reverse is almost the universal
truth. Besides, if it should become the great interest of those nations
to separate from this, if their happiness should depend on it so
strongly as to induce them to go through that convulsion, why should the
Atlantic States dread it? But especially why should we, their present
inhabitants, take side in such a question? When I view the Atlantic
States, procuring for those on the eastern waters of the Mississippi
friendly instead of hostile neighbors on its western waters, I do not
view it as an Englishman would the procuring future blessings for the
French nation, with whom he has no relations of blood or affection. The
future inhabitants of the Atlantic and Mississippi States will be our
sons. We leave them in distinct but bordering establishments. We think
we see their happiness in their union, and we wish it. Events may prove
it otherwise; and if they see their interest in separation, why should
we take side with our Atlantic rather than our Mississippi descendants?
It is the elder and the younger son differing. God bless them both, and
keep them in union, if it be for their good, but separate them, if it be
better. The inhabited part of Louisiana, from Point Coupee to the sea,
will of course be immediately a territorial government, and soon a
State. But above that, the best use we can make of