Thisisnowwellunderstoodtobeanecessarycheckonkings，whomtheywillprobablythinkitmoreprudenttochainandtame，thantoexterminate。Toattainallthishoweverriversofbloodmustyetflow，andyearsofdesolationpassover。Yettheobjectisworthriversofblood，andyearsofdesolationforwhatinheritancesovaluablecanmanleavetohisposterity?ThespiritoftheSpaniardandhisdeadlyandeternalhatredtoaFrenchman，givesmemuchconfidencethathewillneversubmit，butfinallydefeatthisatrociousviolationofthelawsofgodandmanunderwhichheissuffering；andthewisdomandfirmnessoftheCortesaffordreasonablehopethatthatnationwillsettledowninatemperaterepresentativegovernment，withanExecutiveproperlysubordinatedtothat。Portugal，Italy，Prussia，Germany，Greecewillfollowsuit。
　　YouandIshalllookdownfromanotherworldonthesegloriousatchievementstoman，whichwilladdtothejoysevenofheaven。
　　IobserveyourtoastofMr。Jayonthe4th。ofJuly，whereinyousaythattheomissionofhissignaturetotheDeclarationofIndependancewasby_accident_。Ourimpressionsastothisfactbeingdifferent，Ishallbegladtohaveminecorrected，ifwrong。
　　Jay，youknow，hadbeeninconstantoppositiontoourlaboringmajority。Ourestimate，atthetime，wasthathe，DickinsonandJohnsonofMarylandbytheiringenuity，perseveranceandpartialitytoourEnglishconnection，hadconstantlykeptusayearbehindwhereweoughttohavebeeninourpreparationsandproceedings。FromaboutthedateoftheVirginiainstructionsofMay15。76。todeclareIndependanceMr。JayabsentedhimselffromCongress，andnevercamethereagainuntilDec。78。Ofcoursehehadnopartinthediscussionsordecisionofthatquestion。TheinstructionstotheirdelegatesbytheConventionofNewYork，thensitting，tosigntheDeclaration，werepresentedtoCongressonthe15th。ofJulyonly，andonthatdaythejournalsshewtheabsenceofMr。Jaybyaletterrecievedfromhim，astheyhaddoneasearlyasthe29th。ofMaybyanotherletter。And，Ithink，hehadbeenomittedbytheConventiononanewelectionofDelegateswhentheychangedtheirinstructions。
　　Ofthislastfacthoweverhavingnoevidencebutanantientimpression，Ishallnotaffirmit。Butwhethersoornot，noagencyof_accident_appearsinthecase。Thiserroroffacthowever，whetheryoursormine，isoflittleconsequencetothepublic。Buttruthbeingascheapaserror，itisaswelltorectifyitforourownsatisfaction。
　　Ihavehadafeverofaboutthreeweeksduringthelastandprecedingmonth，fromwhichIamentirelyrecoveredexceptastostrength。Everandaffectionatelyyours”THEBESTLETTERTHATEVERWASWRITTEN……”
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，Oct。12，1823_
　　DEARSIR，——IdonotwritewiththeeasewhichyourletterofSep。18。supposes。Crippledwristsandfingersmakewritingslowandlaborious。But，whilewritingtoyou，Ilosethesenseofthesethings，intherecollectionofantienttimes，whenyouthandhealthmadehappinessoutofeverything。Iforgetforawhilethehoarywinterofage，whenwecanthinkofnothingbuthowtokeepourselveswarm，andhowtogetridofourheavyhoursuntilthefriendlyhandofdeathshallridusofallatonce。AgainstthistediumvitaehoweverIamfortunatelymountedonaHobby，whichindeedIshouldhavebettermanagedsome30。or40。yearsago，butwhoseeasyambleisstillsufficienttogiveexerciseandamusementtoanOctogenaryrider。ThisistheestablishmentofanUniversity，onascalemorecomprehensive，andinacountrymorehealthyandcentralthanouroldWilliamandMary，whichtheseobstacleshavelongkeptinastateoflanguorandinefficiency。ButthetardinesswithwhichsuchworksproceedmayrenderitdoubtfulwhetherIshalllivetoseeitgointoaction。
　　Puttingasidethesethingshoweverforthepresent，Iwritethisletterasduetoafriendshipco-evalwithourgovernment，andnowattemptedtobepoisoned，whentoolateinlifetobereplacedbynewaffections。Ihadforsometimeobserved，inthepublicpapers，darkhintsandmysteriousinnuendoesofacorrespondenceofyourswithafriend，towhomyouhadopenedyourbosomwithoutreserve，andwhichwastobemadepublicbythatfriend，orhisrepresentative。
　　Andnowitissaidtobeactuallypublished。Ithasnotyetreachedus，butextractshavebeengiven，andsuchasseemedmostlikelytodrawacurtainofseparationbetweenyouandmyself。Weretherenoothermotivethanthatofindignationagainsttheauthorofthisoutrageonprivateconfidence，whoseshaftseemstohavebeenaimedatyourselfmoreparticularly，thiswouldmakeitthedutyofeveryhonorablemindtodisappointthataim，byopposingtoit’simpressionaseven-foldshieldofapathyandinsensibility。Withmehowevernosucharmourisneeded。Thecircumstancesofthetimes，inwhichwehavehappenedtolive，andthepartialityofourfriends，ataparticularperiod，placedusinastateofapparentopposition，whichsomemightsupposetobepersonalalso；andtheremightnotbewantingthosewhowish’dtomakeitso，byfillingourearswithmalignantfalsehoods，bydressinguphideousphantomsoftheirowncreation，presentingthemtoyouundermyname，tomeunderyour’s，andendeavoringtoinstillintoourmindsthingsconcerningeachotherthemostdestituteoftruth。Andiftherehadbeen，atanytime，amomentwhenwewereoffourguard，andinatempertoletthewhispersofthesepeoplemakeusforgetwhatwehadknownofeachotherforsomanyyears，andyearsofsomuchtrial，yetallmenwhohaveattendedtotheworkingsofthehumanmind，whohaveseenthefalsecoloursunderwhichpassionsometimesdressestheactionsandmotivesofothers，haveseenalsothesepassionssubsidingwithtimeandreflection，dissipating，likemistsbeforetherisingsun，andrestoringtousthesightofallthingsintheirtrueshapeandcolours。Itwouldbestrangeindeedif，atouryears，weweretogoanagebacktohuntupimaginary，orforgottenfacts，todisturbthereposeofaffectionssosweeteningtotheeveningofourlives。Beassured，mydearSir，thatIamincapableofrecievingtheslightestimpressionfromtheeffortnowmadetoplantthornsonthepillowofage，worth，andwisdom，andtosowtaresbetweenfriendswhohavebeensuchfornearhalfacentury。Beseechingyouthennottosufferyourmindtobedisquietedbythiswickedattempttopoisonit’speace，andprayingyoutothrowitby，amongthethingswhichhaveneverhappened，Iaddsincereassurancesofmyunabated，andconstantattachment，friendshipandrespect。
　　THEMONROEDOCTRINE
　　_TothePresidentoftheUnitedStates_
　　JAMESMONROE
　　_Monticello，October24，1823_
　　DEARSIR，——Thequestionpresentedbythelettersyouhavesentme，isthemostmomentouswhichhaseverbeenofferedtomycontemplationsincethatofIndependence。Thatmadeusanation，thissetsourcompassandpointsthecoursewhichwearetosteerthroughtheoceanoftimeopeningonus。Andnevercouldweembarkonitundercircumstancesmoreauspicious。Ourfirstandfundamentalmaximshouldbe，nevertoentangleourselvesinthebroilsofEurope。
　　Oursecond，nevertosufferEuropetointermeddlewithcis-Atlanticaffairs。America，NorthandSouth，hasasetofinterestsdistinctfromthoseofEurope，andpeculiarlyherown。Sheshouldthereforehaveasystemofherown，separateandapartfromthatofEurope。
　　Whilethelastislaboringtobecomethedomicilofdespotism，ourendeavorshouldsurelybe，tomakeourhemispherethatoffreedom。
　　Onenation，mostofall，coulddisturbusinthispursuit；shenowofferstolead，aid，andaccompanyusinit。Byaccedingtoherproposition，wedetachherfromthebands，bringhermightyweightintothescaleoffreegovernment，andemancipateacontinentatonestroke，whichmightotherwiselingerlongindoubtanddifficulty。
　　GreatBritainisthenationwhichcandousthemostharmofanyone，orallonearth；andwithheronoursideweneednotfearthewholeworld。Withherthen，weshouldmostsedulouslycherishacordialfriendship；andnothingwouldtendmoretoknitouraffectionsthantobefightingoncemore，sidebyside，inthesamecause。NotthatIwouldpurchaseevenheramityatthepriceoftakingpartinherwars。Butthewarinwhichthepresentpropositionmightengageus，shouldthatbeitsconsequence，isnotherwar，butours。ItsobjectistointroduceandestablishtheAmericansystem，ofkeepingoutofourlandallforeignpowers，ofneverpermittingthoseofEuropetointermeddlewiththeaffairsofournations。Itistomaintainourownprinciple，nottodepartfromit。Andif，tofacilitatethis，wecaneffectadivisioninthebodyoftheEuropeanpowers，anddrawovertooursideitsmostpowerfulmember，surelyweshoulddoit。
　　ButIamclearlyofMr。Canning’sopinion，thatitwillpreventinsteadofprovokingwar。WithGreatBritainwithdrawnfromtheirscaleandshiftedintothatofourtwocontinents，allEuropecombinedwouldnotundertakesuchawar。Forhowwouldtheyproposetogetateitherenemywithoutsuperiorfleets?Noristheoccasiontobeslightedwhichthispropositionoffers，ofdeclaringourprotestagainsttheatrociousviolationsoftherightsofnations，bytheinterferenceofanyoneintheinternalaffairsofanother，soflagitiouslybegunbyBonaparte，andnowcontinuedbytheequallylawlessAlliance，callingitselfHoly。
　　Butwehavefirsttoaskourselvesaquestion。DowewishtoacquiretoourownconfederacyanyoneormoreoftheSpanishprovinces?Icandidlyconfess，thatIhaveeverlookedonCubaasthemostinterestingadditionwhichcouldeverbemadetooursystemofStates。Thecontrolwhich，withFloridaPoint，thisislandwouldgiveusovertheGulfofMexico，andthecountriesandisthmusborderingonit，aswellasallthosewhosewatersflowintoit，wouldfillupthemeasureofourpoliticalwell-being。Yet，asIamsensiblethatthiscanneverbeobtained，evenwithherownconsent，butbywar；anditsindependence，whichisoursecondinterest，andespeciallyitsindependenceofEngland，canbesecuredwithoutit，I
　　havenohesitationinabandoningmyfirstwishtofuturechances，andacceptingitsindependence，withpeaceandthefriendshipofEngland，ratherthanitsassociation，attheexpenseofwarandherenmity。
　　Icouldhonestly，therefore，joininthedeclarationproposed，thatweaimnotattheacquisitionofanyofthosepossessions，thatwewillnotstandinthewayofanyamicablearrangementbetweenthemandthemothercountry；butthatwewilloppose，withallourmeans，theforcibleinterpositionofanyotherpower，asauxiliary，stipendiary，orunderanyotherformorpretext，andmostespecially，theirtransfertoanypowerbyconquest，cession，oracquisitioninanyotherway。Ishouldthinkit，therefore，advisable，thattheExecutiveshouldencouragetheBritishgovernmenttoacontinuanceinthedispositionsexpressedintheseletters，byanassuranceofhisconcurrencewiththemasfarashisauthoritygoes；andthatasitmayleadtowar，thedeclarationofwhichrequiresanactofCongress，thecaseshallbelaidbeforethemforconsiderationattheirfirstmeeting，andunderthereasonableaspectinwhichitisseenbyhimself。
　　Ihavebeensolongweanedfrompoliticalsubjects，andhavesolongceasedtotakeanyinterestinthem，thatIamsensibleIamnotqualifiedtoofferopinionsonthemworthyofanyattention。Butthequestionnowproposedinvolvesconsequencessolasting，andeffectssodecisiveofourfuturedestinies，astorekindlealltheinterestIhaveheretoforefeltonsuchoccasions，andtoinducemetothehazardofopinions，whichwillproveonlymywishtocontributestillmymitetowardsanythingwhichmaybeusefultoourcountry。Andprayingyoutoacceptitatonlywhatitisworth，Iaddtheassuranceofmyconstantandaffectionatefriendshipandrespect。
　　APLANOFEMANCIPATION
　　_ToJaredSparks_
　　_Monticello，February4，1824_
　　DEARSIR，——Idulyreceivedyourfavorofthe13th，andwithit，thelastnumberoftheNorthAmericanReview。ThishasanticipatedtheoneIshouldreceiveincourse，buthavenotyetreceived，undermysubscriptiontothenewseries。ThearticleontheAfricancolonizationofthepeopleofcolor，towhichyouinvitemyattention，Ihavereadwithgreatconsideration。Itis，indeed，afineone，andwilldomuchgood。Ilearnfromitmore，too，thanI
　　hadbeforeknown，ofthedegreeofsuccessandpromiseofthatcolony。
　　Inthedispositionoftheseunfortunatepeople，therearetworationalobjectstobedistinctlykeptinview。First。TheestablishmentofacolonyonthecoastofAfrica，whichmayintroduceamongtheaboriginestheartsofcultivatedlife，andtheblessingsofcivilizationandscience。Bydoingthis，wemaymaketothemsomeretributionforthelongcourseofinjurieswehavebeencommittingontheirpopulation。Andconsideringthattheseblessingswilldescendtothe_”natinatorum，etquinascenturabillis，”_weshallinthelongrunhaverenderedthemperhapsmoregoodthanevil。Tofulfilthisobject，thecolonyofSierraLeonepromiseswell，andthatofMesuradoaddstoourprospectofsuccess。Underthisview，thecolonizationsocietyistobeconsideredasamissionarysociety，havinginview，however，objectsmorehumane，morejustifiable，andlessaggressiveonthepeaceofothernations，thantheothersofthatappellation。
　　Thesubjectobject，andthemostinterestingtous，ascominghometoourphysicalandmoralcharacters，toourhappinessandsafety，istoprovideanasylumtowhichwecan，bydegrees，sendthewholeofthatpopulationfromamongus，andestablishthemunderourpatronageandprotection，asaseparate，freeandindependentpeople，insomecountryandclimatefriendlytohumanlifeandhappiness。
　　ThatanyplaceonthecoastofAfricashouldanswerthelatterpurpose，Ihaveeverdeemedentirelyimpossible。Andwithoutrepeatingtheotherargumentswhichhavebeenurgedbyothers，Iwillappealtofiguresonly，whichadmitnocontroversy。Ishallspeakinroundnumbers，notabsolutelyaccurate，yetnotsowidefromtruthastovarytheresultmaterially。ThereareintheUnitedStatesamillionandahalfofpeopleofcolorinslavery。Tosendoffthewholeoftheseatonce，nobodyconceivestobepracticableforus，orexpedientforthem。Letustaketwenty-fiveyearsforitsaccomplishment，withinwhichtimetheywillbedoubled。Theirestimatedvalueasproperty，inthefirstplace，foractualpropertyhasbeenlawfullyvestedinthatform，andwhocanlawfullytakeitfromthepossessors?atanaverageoftwohundreddollarseach，youngandold，wouldamounttosixhundredmillionsofdollars，whichmustbepaidorlostbysomebody。Tothis，addthecostoftheirtransportationbylandandseatoMesurado，ayear’sprovisionoffoodandclothing，implementsofhusbandryandoftheirtrades，whichwillamounttothreehundredmillionsmore，makingthirty-sixmillionsofdollarsayearfortwenty-fiveyears，withinsuranceofpeaceallthattime，anditisimpossibletolookatthequestionasecondtime。Iamawarethatattheendofaboutsixteenyears，agradualdetractionfromthissumwillcommence，fromthegradualdiminutionofbreeders，andgoonduringtheremainingnineyears。
　　Calculatethisdeduction，anditisstillimpossibletolookattheenterpriseasecondtime。Idonotsaythistoinduceaninferencethatthegettingridofthemisforeverimpossible。Forthatisneithermyopinionnormyhope。Butonlythatitcannotbedoneinthisway。Thereis，Ithink，awayinwhichitcanbedone；thatis，byemancipatingtheafter-born，leavingthem，onduecompensation，withtheirmothers，untiltheirservicesareworththeirmaintenance，andthenputtingthemtoindustriousoccupations，untilaproperagefordeportation。Thiswastheresultofmyreflectionsonthesubjectfiveandfortyyearsago，andIhaveneveryetbeenabletoconceiveanyotherpracticableplan。ItwassketchedintheNotesonVirginia，underthefourteenthquery。Theestimatedvalueofthenew-borninfantissolow，saytwelvedollarsandfiftycents，thatitwouldprobablybeyieldedbytheownergratis，andwouldthusreducethesixhundredmillionsofdollars，thefirstheadofexpense，tothirty-sevenmillionsandahalf；leavingonlytheexpenseofnourishmentwhilewiththemother，andoftransportation。
　　Andfromwhatfundaretheseexpensestobefurnished?WhynotfromthatofthelandswhichhavebeencededbytheveryStatesnowneedingthisrelief?Andcededonnoconsideration，forthemostpart，butthatofthegeneralgoodofthewhole。ThesecessionsalreadyconstituteonefourthoftheStatesoftheUnion。Itmaybesaidthattheselandshavebeensold；arenowthepropertyofthecitizenscomposingthoseStates；andthemoneylongagoreceivedandexpended。Butanequivalentoflandsintheterritoriessinceacquired，maybeappropriatedtothatobject，orsomuch，atleast，asmaybesufficient；andtheobject，althoughmoreimportanttotheslaveStates，ishighlysototheothersalso，iftheywereseriousintheirargumentsontheMissouriquestion。TheslaveStates，too，ifmoreinterested，wouldalsocontributemorebytheirgratuitousliberation，thustakingonthemselvesalonethefirstandheaviestitemofexpense。