Early Governors' Papers

a Countenance itself, from the [?]

can only be Noticed or favored for their atrocious Murders, Roberies, and a disolute Wantonness, to commit every diabolical Crime, that could possibly suggest itself to savage invention.

A great number of people are determined to descend the Mississippi, and if ^the measures are pursued, that now so impertinently Stare us in the face; I fear one half of our Citizens will flock over into another government; indeed, they are now doing it daily - Instead of our state ^in its infancy, being encouraged, Fostered, and Matured, it appears that measures are [?]= ating to check and destroy its the happiness, if not its existence.

Suppose our delegation, on proviso, an ^no other mode could not be effected; would propose to extinguish the indians Claim a second time, at our own expense; Certainly if the General Government had any intention, to of doing any thing to benefit us, in this remote corner they will not object to a measure purely right in its self, and without cost to the Union. The prevention of a settlement at or near the Muscell Shoals [sic] is a manifest injury done the whole Western Country; And so long as it may be is the case, we shall be debared [sic] from the navigation ^which leads by ^the way of Moabile [sic]; perhaps a an outlet to commerce equal, if not Superior, to any in the United States.

Permit me to remark to you, that the American line will Cross low down on the ^bay of Moabile [sic], which will include a number of inhabitants there with^in our line, that there is ^also now settled high up on Tom bigby river [sic], a considerable number of families above between the chickasaw nation & the Alabama

Supposed to be about the distance of one hundred miles from the Musscel Shoals [sic], directly in the way from thence to Moabile [sic].

The distance from the Shoals, to the town of Moable [sic] does not exceed two hundred miles- the portage across from the Tennessee, to the Bigby, is about thirty, Miles, and to where the tide ebbs and flows not more than one hundred. I state these circumstances to you sir, to explain and evince, in what an advantageous a manner, the ^our intercourse and commerce, may be carried on with, I may say, all the World? with every Quarter of the Globe? The small String, or neck of land, lying between Tennessee and Bigby rivers, is the all the difficulty; and easily Surmounted which is so trivial, that it is not worth examining, in the great scale of ^the Western commerce, that must ere long, be equal if not greatly superior, to any in all America; May I not say, in the whole world? - Will the American Congress, Cramp and refuse to the Western Americans, the great natural advantages and blessings, providence has designed for, us ^and placed before them? Will the that body suffer the Citizens to be drained out of their States, by and migrate into by other nations, who will encourage take the advan =tage of our discords and jealousies; by granting to emigrants the privileges of promoting their natural & useful advantages? God forbid, I hope they will not. And I sincerely pray, they will Maturily deliberate on the matters and things relative to the ^interest of the Western Country, while they have it in their power, to keep us united, by only granting and extending our just and equitable rights. A thing so just in itself, that I am flattered with a belief, cannot be denied - I have the honor &c &c

attended with so much difficulty, expense, and uncertainty, as to render it but a small convenience in comparison to the improved and constant Navigation which is contemplated by the Canal. The Market of New Orleans, however, important as it must ever be in general, will be frequently attended with material disadvantages. It must often be overstocked in the produce which Tennessee and Alabama would have occasion to send to it, and this state of things must become continually more perplex= =ing, as the improvement of the immense valley of the Mississippi progresses. The City of Mobile would be more [free?] from this inconvenience, & will in general, I think, afford a better Market for the produce of this State and of East Tennessee, than the City of New Orleans. There would also be the advantage, of passing on that commercial route through the consuming country, for many of the Articles, and giving to the grower the advantage of selling immediately to the consumer. At all events, by opening both Markets, very singular benefits must be obtained, and there would be afforded to our citizens every possible means of selling their produce at a fine price and perhaps of making ex= =changes highly beneficial to all parties. But I intend mainly to hint at these subjects in the present communication. An intercourse with Mobile must be opened by Canal or Rail Road, connecting the Navigable waters of the Tennessee River with Steam Boat Navigation on the Alabama. I am inclined to think that a rail road would be far preferable to a Canal, and indeed nature seems to have furnished

every facility for a rail Road along the vallies running in the direction of the point of communication with the Alabama. There is plenty of the best iron ore and mineral coal on the route, which might be of use in the construc =tion of the road itself, and afterwards furnish important Articles of home supply, and commerce along that route. The Vallies are very hard and of considerable length, so that in them the expense of graduating the Road would be very inconsiderable. There will no where be much elevation to overcome, and should it be thought best to construct the Rail Road of wood, very durable materials of that description will be found at hand along the whole route. The liberal donation which we have received from the General Government, together with assistance from the State of Tennessee ^even in a small degree proportioned to the benefits to be derived by the State from their improvements, opening to it alike and at its option, the commerce of Mobile and New Orleans, would enable the State of Alabama, or both States in conjoined operations, to accomplish the Canal at the Muscle Shoals, and the Rail Road from some convenient point on the Tennessee, to Steam Boat Navigation on the Alabama. I cannot but believe that even those two objects accom =plished, incalculable benefits to the present and future