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member I this day told you so, that same spirit of freedom which actuated that people at first, will accompany them still-but prudence forbids me to explain myself further. God knows I do not at this time speak from motives of party heat; what I deliver are the genuine sentiments of my heart. However superiour to me in general knowledge and experience, the respectable body of this house may be, yet I claim to know more of America than most of you, having seen and been conversant in that country. The people,

believe, are as truly loyal as any subjects the king has; but a people jealous of their liberties, and who will vindicate them if ever they should be violated-but the subject is too delicate-I will say no more."

Hezekiah Niles, Principles and Acts of the Revolution... 1775 (Baltimore, 1822), 19-20.

20. Commercial Possibilities of the Mississippi Valley (1765)

By CAPTAIN JONATHAN CARVER

A traveler and observer whose results have been questioned, but his view of the future of the Mississippi Valley is amply justified.

THE Countries that lie between the great lakes and River Miffifippi, and from thence fouthward to Weft Florida, although in the midst of a large

continent, and at a great distance from the fea, are fo fituated, that a communication between them and other realms might conveniently be opened; by which means thofe empires or colonies that may hereafter be founded or planted therein, will be rendered commercial ones. The great River Miffifippi, which runs through the whole of them, will enable their inhabitants to establish an intercourfe with foreign climes, equally as well as the Euphrates, the Nile, the Danube, or the Wolga do thofe people which dwell on their banks, and who have no other convenience for exporting the produce of their own country, or for importing thofe of others, than boats and veffels of light burden: notwithstanding which, they have become powerful and opulent states.

The Miffifippi, as I have before obferved, runs from north to fouth, and paffes through the most fertile and temperate part of North-America, excluding only the extremities of it, which verge both on the torrid and frigid zones. Thus favorably fituated, when once its banks are covered with inhabitants, they need not long be at a lofs for means to establish an extenfive and profitable commerce. They will find the country towards the fouth almost spontaneously producing filk, cotton, indigo, and tobacco; and the more northern parts, wine, oil, beef, tallow, skins, buffalowool, and furs, with lead, copper, iron, coals,

lumber, corn, rice, and fruits, befides earth and barks for dying.

These articles, with which it abounds even to profufion, may be tranfported to the ocean through this river without greater difficulty than that which attends the conveyance of merchandize down fome of those I have just mentioned. It is true that that Miffifippi being the boundary between the English and Spanish fettlements, and the Spaniards in poffeffion of the mouth of it, they may obftruct the paffage of it and greatly difhearten those who make the first attempts; yet when the advantages that will certainly arise to fettlers, are known, multitudes of adventures, allured by the prospect of such abundant riches, will flock to it, and establish themselves, though at the expence of rivers of blood.

But fhould the nation that happens to be in poffeffion of New-Orleans prove unfriendly to the internal fettlers, they may find a way into the Gulf of Mexico, by the river Iberville, which empties itself from the Miffifippi, after paffing through Lake Maurepas, into Lake Ponchartrain. . . .

It is however neceffary to observe, that before these fettlements can be established, grants muft be procured in the manner customary on fuch occafions, and the lands be purchafed of thofe who have acquired a right to them by a long poffeffion; but no greater difficulty will attend the

completion of this point, than the original founders of every colony on the continent met with to obftruct their intentions; and the number of Indians who inhabit these tracts being greatly inadequate to their extent, it is not to be doubted, but they will readily give up for a reasonable confideration, territories that are of little use to them; or remove for the accommodation of their new neighbours, to lands at a greater distance from the Miffifippi, the navigation of which is not effential to the welfare of their communities. . . .

I need not repeat that all the spots I have thus pointed out as proper for colonization, abound not only with the neceffaries of life, being well ftored with rice, deer, buffaloes, bears, &c. but produce in equal abundance fuch as may be termed luxuries, or at least those articles of commerce before recited which the inhabitants of it will have an opportunity of exchanging for the needful productions of other countries.

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As it has been difcovered by fuch as have failed into the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean, that there are many inlets which verge towards Hudfon's Bay, it is not to be doubted but that a paffage might be made out from that quarter, if it be fought for at a proper season. And should thefe expectations be disappointed, the explorers would not be in the fame hazardous fituation with those who fet out from Hudson's Bay, for they will always be fure of a fafe re

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

treat, through an open fea, to warmer regions, even after repeated disappointments. And this confidence will enable them to proceed with greater refolution, and probably be the means of effecting what too much circumfpection or timidity has prevented. . . .

Jonathan Carver, Travels, Appendix (Boston, 1797), 303-311 passim.

21. Doubts of the English Constitution (1765-1766)

By CHARLES CARROLL OF CARROLLTON

Member of a wealthy Maryland family and later a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

YE mistaken policy of England, as I observed before, will force us to be industrious: our inability, while loaded with oppressive taxes to purchase your manufactures, will oblige us to manufacture for ourselves: the worst of evils this, that can possibly befall England, the loss of liberty excepted: that indeed seems already lost, or near expiring.

The preamble of ye Stamp Act is as alarming as ye Act itself; the sole reason given for passing it is because such and such duties had been granted to his Majesty ye preceeding Sessions; thus they may go on ad infinitum: allow

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