"A combination of circumstances make the present conjuncture more favorable than any other to fix the trade of the Western Country to our Markets.--The jealous & untoward disposition of the Spaniards on one side, and the private views of some individuals coinciding with the policy of the Court of G. Britain on the other, to retain the posts of Oswego, Niagara, Detroit &c{a} (which tho' done under the letter of the treaty is certainly an infraction of the Spirit of it, & injurious to the Union) may be improved to the greatest advantage by this State if she would open her arms, & embrace the means which are necessary to establish it--The way is plain, & the expense, comparitively speaking deserves not a thought, so great would be the prize--The Western Inhabitants would do their part towards accomplishing it,--weak, as they now are, they would, I am persuaded meet us half way rather than be _driven_ into the arms of, or be in any wise dependent upon, foreigners; the consequences of which would be, a separation, or a War.-- "The way to avoid both, happily for us, is easy, and dictated by our clearest interest.--It is to open a wide door, and make a smooth way for the Produce of that Country to pass to our Markets before the trade may get into another channel--this, in my judgment, would dry up the other Sources; or if any part should flow down the Mississippi, from the Falls of the Ohio, in Vessels which may be built--fitted for Sea--& sold with their Cargoes, the proceeds I have no manner of doubt, will return this way; & that it is better to prevent an evil than to rectify a mistake none can deny--commercial, connections, of all others, are most difficult to dissolve--if we wanted proof of this, look to the avidity with which we are renewing, after a _total_ suspension of eight years, our correspondence with Great Britain;--So, if we are supine, and suffer without a struggle the Settlers of the Western Country to form commercial connections with the Spaniards, Britons, or with any of the States in the Union we shall find it a difficult matter to dissolve them altho' a better communication should, thereafter, be presented to them--time only could effect it; such is the force of habit!-- "Rumseys discovery of working Boats against stream, by mechanical powers principally, may not only be considered as a fortunate invention for these States in general but as one of those circumstances which have combined to render the present epoche favorable above all others for securing (if we are disposed to avail ourselves of them) a large portion of the produce of the Western Settlements, and of the Fur and Peltry of the Lakes, also.--the importation of which alone, if there were no political considerations in the way, is immense.--