An Empire for Liberty?

Former President Jefferson writes to his successor, James Madison, in 1809, "I candidly confess that I have ever looked upon Cuba as the most interesting addition that can be made to our system of States." With Cuba and Canada, he says, "we should have such an empire for liberty as she has never surveyed since the creation." But Madison settles on a policy of leaving Cuba to the domination of Spain, a relatively weak country, while guarding against its seizure by any mightier power. In 1810, Madison instructs his minister to Great Britain to tell the British that the United States will not sit idly by if Britain were to try to gain possession of Cuba.