The remonstrance of the Citizens West of the aligany Mountains Respectfully shewith That your remonstrants are Entitled by Nature and by stipulation to the undisturbed Navigation of the river Mississippi; and consider it a right Inseperable from their prosperity. That in colonizing this distant and dangerous desart, they always contemplated the free Enjoyment of this right, and considered it as an inseperable Appendage to the country they had sought out, had fought for, and acquired. That for a series of years during their Early settlement, their petitions to government to Secure this right, were answered by its alledged weakness, and your remonstrants taught to Expect, that the time was approaching fast, when both power and Inclination would both unite, to establish it on the firmest grounds. In this anxious expectation they waited, and to the insolence of those who arrogated its exclusive Exercise they patiently submitted, till the government of america had so Strengthened itself, as to hold out an assurance of future protection to all its citizens, and of redress for all their wrongs.

That protection has not been extended to us, we need only refer to our present situation, and that that situation has not been concealed from, or unknown to, congress we appeal to its archives. We have without ceasing deplored to you our degraded situation, and burdened you with our humble petitions and requests but alas! we still experience, that the strong nerved government of america extends its arm of protection to all the branches of the Union, but to your remonstrants. That it is competent to every End, but that single one, by which alone it can benefit us; The protection of our territorial rights. It is competent to exact obedience, but not to make that return, which can be the only Just and natural Exchange for it. Long have your remonstrants been anxiously in Quest of the obstacles that have stood in your way, to the establishment of this our right; and as long has their persuit been fruitless. Formal and Tardy Negotiations have no doubt been often projected, and have as often Miscarried. It is true some Negotiations were once attempted, that were neither formal nor tardy and gave an early shock to our encreasing population, and to our peace of mind;1 but your remonstrants are constrained to be of Opinion, that the neglect or local policy of american councils, has never produced one single real effort to procure this right. Could the government of america be for ten years seriously in pursuit of the establishment of a grand territorial right, which was arrogantly suspended,2 and return to that quarter of the union to whom it was all-important, but an Equivocal answer? We think it high time that we should be thoroughly informed of the situation on which your negociations, if any, have left this right: for apathy itself has grown hopeless from long disappointed expectations.

Your remonstrants yield not in patriotism to any of their fellow citizens: but patriotism, like every other thing, has its bounds. We love those states from which we were all congregated, and no event (not even an attempt to barter away our best rights) shall alien our affections from the individual members who compose them: but attachment to governments cease to be natural, when they cease to be natural.3 To be subjected to all the burthens, and enjoy none of the benefits arising from government, is what we will never submit to. Our situation compells us to speak plainly. If wretchedness and poverty awa[i]t us it is of no concern to us how they are produced. We are gratified in the prosperity of the atlantic States, but would not speak the language of Truth and Sincerity, were we not to declare our unwillingness to make any sacrifices to it, when their importance and those sacrafices result from our Distress. If the Interest of eastern america requires, that we should be kept in poverty, it is unreasonable from such poverty to exact contributions. The first, if we cannot emerge from, We must Learn to bear; but the latter, We never can be taught to submit to.

From the general government of america, therefore, your remonstrants now ask protection, in the free enjoyment of the navigation of the river mississippi, which is withheld from them by the spaniards. We demand it as a right which you have the power to invest us With, and which not to exert, is as great a breach of our rights, as to withhold. We declare, that nothing can retribute us for the suspension or loss of this inestimable right. We declare it to be a right which must be obtained; and do also declare, that if the General Government will not procure it for us, We shall hold ourselves not answerable for any consequences that may result from our own procurement of it. The God of nature has given us both the right and means of acquiring and enjoying it; and to permit a Sacrafice of it to any earthly consideration, Would be a crime against ourselves and against our posterity.