January 25, 1861, The New York Herald
It appears that above Vicksburg, by direction of Gov. Pettus, a battery has been erected, and that every boat hailing from north of Mason and Dixon’s line is compelled to round to and give an account of itself. This, we think, whatever the specific object may be, is a dangerous experiment on the part of the local authorities of the State of Mississippi. The people of the Northwestern States regard the Mississippi river as a free national highway, their natural commercial outlet to the sea. They also have the will and the power to make good their claim against any attempt and any combination to obstruct the free navigation of said river, or, as Mr. Calhoun called it, “inland sea.” Therefore if the authorities of Mississippi do not wish to invite a collision with the eight or ten millions of people of the Northern and Northwestern States who are directly interested in the right of way up and down Father of Waters, these batteries, which would reduce the lower river to the condition of the Dardanelles, will be abandoned. There can be no such a thing as the control of the Mississippi river by a Southern State or a Southern confederacy. It would be as easy to turn back the mighty stream itself as the trade which nature has declared shall float upon its bosom to the sea.