Excerpts from The Papers of Thomas Jefferson

Julian P. Boyd, ed. (Princeton, N.J., 1951)

Volume 4: 1 October 1780 to 24 February 1781

22 November 1780 From Theodorick Bland (in Philadelphia), pp. 136-138.

p. 137: "We think it a duty we owe to our Constituents to call their attention to a revision of our former instructions relative to the Navigation of the Missisipi that, Should any overtures from Spain be offerd which are advantageous to the United States, and which might contribute not only to releive our present necessities, but promise us peace and a firm establishment of our Independence, it might not be considerd as an object that would counterbalance the distant prospect of a free Navigation of that River, with Stipulated ports, which may perhaps under another form or at some more convenient opportunity be obtaind from that Nation in behalf of our Citizens settled on its Bankes and Waters. Having Shewn the above to my Colleague Mr. Madison, he has thought it unnecessary to Join in that Part of it relating to our Instructions on the Subject of the Navigation of the Missisipi. I am sorry to say that notwithstanding the high Idea I entertain of that Gentlemans good sense, Judgment and Candor; I feel myself, irrisistably impelld by a Sense of my duty, to State a Matter and to communicate it through the Proper Channel which may eventually affect so greatly the Prosperity and mere existence of the United States at large. . . ."

13 December 1780 From the Virginia Delegates in Congress (in Philadelphia), pp. 203-4.

p. 203: "The complexion of the intelligence received of late from Spain, with the manner of thinking which begins to prevail in Congress with regard to the claims to the navigation of the Mississippi, makes it our duty to apply to our constituents for their precise full and ultimate sense on this point. If Spain should make a relinquishment of the navigation of that river on the part of the United States an indispensable condition of an alliance with them, and the State of Virginia should adhere to their former determination to insist on the right of navigation, their delegates ought to be so instructed mot only for their own satisfaction, but that they may the more effectually obviate arguments drawn from a supposition that the change of circumstances which has taken place since the former instructions were given may have changed the opinion of Virginia with regard to the object of them. If on the other side any such change of opinion should have happened, and it is now the sense of the State that an Alliance with Spain ought to be purchased even at the price of such a cession if it cannot be obtained on better terms it is evidently necessary that we should be authorized to concur in it. It will also be expedient for the Legislature to instruct us in the most explicit terms whether any and what extent of the territory on the East side of the Mississippi and within the limits of Virginia, is in any event to be yielded to Spain as the price of an Alliance with her. Lastly it is our earnest wish to know what steps it is the pleasure of our Constituents we should take in case we should be instructed in no event to concede the claims of Virginia either to territory or to the navigation of the abovementioned river and Congress should without their concurrence agree to such concession. . . . [signed] James Madison Junr., Theok: Bland"

18 January 1781 To the Virginia Delegates in Congress(from Richmond), pp. 398-400.

p. 398: "I inclose you a resolution of Assembly directing your Conduct as to the navigation of the Missisippi."

p. 400: Ed. Note: For the delegates' request for instructions respecting the navigation of the Mississippi, see Virginia Delegates to TJ, 13Dec. and TJ to Benjamin Harrison, 25 Dec. 1780; see also JHD, Oct. 1780, 1827 edn., p.68, 79, 80-1.