Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/169

Rh purposes of the new administration. That Jefferson was worthy of this confidence had been demonstrated by his previous sympathy with Western interests, manifested for many years. (Jefferson s Complete Works, H. A. Washington, vol. 2, p. 107.)

As early as January 30, 1787, he wrote to Madison from Paris: &quot;I will venture to say that the act which abandons the navigation of the Mississippi is an act of separation between the Eastern and Western country. &quot; His matured purpose to use peaceful means, and his reasons for avoiding war, if possible, are shown in the following letter to Dr. Hugh Williamson, written as late as April 30, 1803:

(Jefferson s Complete Works H. A. Washington, vol. 4, P- 483-)

&quot;Although I do not count with confidence on obtaining New Orleans from France for money, yet I am confident in the policy of putting off the day of contention for it till we have lessened the embarrassment of debt accumulated instead of being discharged by our predecessors, till we obtain more of that strength which is growing on us so rapidly, and especially till we have planted a population on the Mississippi itself sufficient to do its own work without marching men fifteen hundred miles from the Atlantic shores to perish by fatigue and unfriendly climates.&quot; * * *

These two letters, written so far apart, clearly reveal his sentiments and the fixed purpose which he stead fastly maintained and finally carried to complete success: 1. The navigation of the Mississippi river should never be abandoned. 2. It was to be protected as long as possible by negotiation and appeals to justice. 3. War was to be used as the last resort, and to be avoided, if possible, while the country grew in strength.

This patient policy would have secured its object, the navigation of the Mississippi, but the door to far greater success was unexpectedly opened. Before the end of the first month of his administration as President, whispers