. Madison's opinions on it."

Jefferson's reply dated Monticello, October 24th, displays not only a
profound insight into the international situation, but a wide vision of
the possibilities involved. He said:

"The question presented by the letters you have sent me, is the most
momentous which has ever been offered to my contemplation since that of
Independence. That made us a nation, this sets our compass and points
the course which we are to steer through the ocean of time opening on
us. And never could we embark on it under circumstances more
auspicious. Our first and fundamental maxim should be, never to
entangle ourselves in the broils of Europe. Our second, never to
suffer Europe to intermeddle with cis-Atlantic affairs. America, North
and South, has a set of interests distinct from those of Europe, and
peculiarly her own. She should therefore have a system of her own,
separate and apart from that of Europe. While the last is laboring to
become the domicil of despotism, our endeavor should surely be, to make
our hemisphere that of freedom. One nation, most of all, could disturb
us in this pursuit; she now offers to lead, aid, and accompany us in
it. By acceding to her proposition, we detach her from the bands,
bring her mighty weight into the scale of free government, and
emancipate a continent at one stroke, which might otherwise linger long
in doubt and difficulty. Great Britain is the nation which can do us
the most harm of any one, or all on earth; and with her on our side we
need not fear the whole world. With her then, we should most
sedulously cherish a cordial friendship; and nothing would tend more to
knit our affections than to be fighting once more, side by side, in the
same cause. Not that I would purchase even her amity at the price of
taking part in her wars. But the war in which the present proposition
might engage us, should that be its consequence, is not her war, but
ours. Its object is to introduce and establish the American system, of
keeping out of our land all foreign powers, of never permitting those
of Europe to intermeddle with the affairs of our nations. It is to
maintain our own principle, not to depart from it. And if, to
facilitate this, we can effect a division in the body of the European
powers, and draw over to our side its most powerful member, surely we
should do it. But I am clearly of Mr. Canning's opinion, that it will
prevent instead of provoking war. With