What would be Thomas Jefferson's response to the terrorist actions in New York and Washington? - as a citizen? - as the President? What is the relevance of the following Jefferson quotes?
By nature's law, man is at peace with man till some aggression is committed, which, by the same law, authorizes one to destroy another as his enemy.
Letter to Edmond Genet, 1793
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.
Letter to William Stephens Smith, 1787
If ever there was a holy war, it was that which saved our liberties and gave us independence.
Letter to John Wayles Eppes, 1813
From what I learn from the temper of my countrymen and their tenaciousness of money, it will be more easy to raise ships and men to fight these pirates into reason than money to bribe them.
To Ezra Stiles, 1786
My idea is, that we should not ransom, but on the footing of the nation which pays least, that it may be as little worth their while to go in pursuit of us, as any nation. This is cruelty to the individuals now in captivity, but kindness to the hundreds that would so, were we to make it worth the while of those pirates to go out...in quest of us.
To John Jay, 1787
