Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-13-02-0264

James Monroe to Thomas Jefferson, 3 October [1818]

From James Monroe

Octr 3.

J. Monroe has the pleasure to submit to mr Jefferson’s perusal a letter from Judge Bland, on So american affrs, which he mentiond to him sometime since.

If the weather & mr Jefferson’s health permit J. M. will be very much gratified by his company to day, with the gentlemen, now at Monticello, who promisd, with Col Randolph, to dine with him to day.

RC (DLC: TJ Papers, 213:38092); partially dated at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 3 Oct. 1818 received the same day. Enclosure: Theodorick Bland to Monroe, Buenos Aires, 14 Apr. 1818, indicating that he is planning a visit to Chile; suggesting that Monroe obtain a description of the reception of the United States commissioners to South America from Caesar A. Rodney and John Graham; requesting permission to postpone submission of his official report until his return from Chile; noting that political conflict among the provinces hampers the ability of the United States to recognize their independence; stating that the people of Buenos Aires are committed to preserving their independence, but that “The Colonial System it is well known, was a complete despotism in all its branches, and when abrogated it not only left the people without any political forms capable of being remoulded into institutions friendly to liberty; but it also left them ignorant of the most important branch of political science, the organization and operation of free municipal institutions—Political science and general information are, however, spreading very fast; many of the useful arts and trades have been introduced; and Religious intolerance is rapidly crumbling away”; listing cattle as the primary export, but predicting that, with independence, the variety of commodities traded will increase; and concluding that he has drawn on the United States Treasury for $2,500 to pay his expenses and that he hopes to return from Valparaiso on board the USS Ontario “in August or September next” (RC in DLC: Monroe Papers; at foot of text: “James Monroe President of the U States Washington”; endorsed by Monroe).

Index Entries

  • Argentina; independence movement in search
  • Bland, Theodorick; as U.S. commissioner to South America search
  • cattle; as commodity search
  • Chile; independence movement in search
  • Graham, John (1774–1820); as U.S. commissioner to South America search
  • Highland (J. Monroe’s Albemarle Co. estate); TJ visits search
  • Monroe, James; and South American affairs search
  • Monroe, James; letters from search
  • Ontario, USS (sloop of war) search
  • Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); and J. Monroe search
  • Rodney, Caesar Augustus; as U.S. commissioner to South America search
  • South America; republics in search
  • Spain; colonies of search
  • United Provinces of South America; U.S. commissioners to search