6710. POLICY (American), Peace and friendship.—[further continued] .
Separated by a wide
ocean from the nations of Europe, and from
the political interests which entangle them
together, with productions and wants which
render our commerce and friendship useful
to them and theirs to us, it cannot be the
interest of any to assail us, nor ours to disturb
them. We should be most unwise, indeed
were we to cast away the singular
blessings of the position in which nature has
placed us, the opportunity she has endowed
us with of pursuing at a distance from foreign
contentions, the paths of industry, peace
and happiness; of cultivating general friendship,
and of bringing collisions of interest
to the umpirage of reason rather than of
force.—
Third Annual Message. Washington ed. viii, 29.
Ford ed., viii, 273.
(Oct. 1803)
