Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-08-12

necessary as tney VIII De acceptable 10 me.
MAY | be allowed to add, that it be
among The highest as WE'LL as purest en-
joyments that can sweeten the remnant of
my days, to partake in a private station, in
the midst of my fellow citizens. Of that
benign influence of good laws under a free
government, which has been the ultimate
object Of oil our wishes, and in which I
confde as the happy reward of our cares
and laborse May I be allowed further to
add, as q consideration far more important
that an early example of rotation ia au
office OF 60 high and delicate a nature, may
equally accord with the republican spirit
OF our Constitution, and the ideas of liberty
and safety entertained by the people.
ltf a farewell address is to be added o.
the expiration of the term. the following
paragraph may conclude the PRESENT.
"Under these circumstances, a return TO
my private stations, according to The pur.
pose with which / quilted it, is the part
which duty as well as inclination assigns
me. In executing it, | shall carry with me
every tender recollection, which gratitude
10 my fellow citizens can awaken and q
senslbillty to the permanent happiness of
nv country. which will tender it the object
Of my Increasing vows and most fervent
applications"
[Should no further address be intended,
the preceding clause may be omitted and
the present address proceed as follows.]
"ln contemplating the moment at which
the curtain is to drop forever on the pub.
lie scenes of my life, my sensations antici.
pate, and do not permit me to suspend.
the deep acknowledgements required by
that debt of gratitude, which | owe to my
beloved country, for the many honors it
has conferred upon me, for the dis inguish.
ed confidence it has reposed 10 mo. aud Tor
the opportunities | have thus enjoyed, Of
testifying my inviolable attachment by the
most sleadfast services which my faculties
could render.
"All the returns ! have now to make
will be in those vows, which | shall carry
with me to my retirement and TO my grave
that Heaven may continue to favor the
people Of the United States with the
choicest tokens Of its 3eneicience; that
their uhlon and bro'herly affection may be
perpetual; that the free constitution, which
IL the work of their own hands. may be sa-
credly maintained; that its administration
IN every department be stamped with
wisdom and with virtue; and that this
character may be ensured TO it, BY that
watchfulness over public servants and pub
~ wv ~ olC huhu "ll UG
necessary to prevent or correct a degener.
acy that forbearance on the other,
from unfounded or indiscriminate jealous
les, which would deprive the public OF the
best services, by depriving a conscious in
tegrlty of Que of the noblest indictments to
perform Their, that, in fine, the happiness
Ut the people Of America, under The auspi-
ces Of liberty, may be made complete. by
SO careful a preservation, and so prudent u
use OF this blessing. as will acquire them
the glorious satisfaction of recommending
It TO the affection, the praise, and the adop.
ton ofevery nation, which is yet q stranger
to it.
"And may we not dwell with well ground.
ed hopes on this tlatterlng prospect, when
we reflect Gu the many lies by which the
people of America are bound together, and
The many proofs they have gwen Of on en-.
Ilghiened judgment and @ magnanimous
patriotism.
I'VE may all be considered as the chill.
dren of one common country. We have
all been embarked in one common Cause
We have all had our share in common suf-
fer;ngS, and common successes. The por-
ton of the Earth allotted for the theatre of
our fortunes, fulfils our most sanguine de.
sires. All its essential interests are the
same, whilst the dlversities arising from
climate, from soil, and from other local and
lesser peculiarities. will naturally form q
mutual relation of the parts, that may give
to the whole a more entire Independence,
than has perhaps fallen to the lot Of any
other nation.
$40 confirm these motives to an affec.
~tionate and permanent union, and to secure
the great objects Of It, we have established
a common government, which being free
in lis principles. being founded in our own
choice, being intended as the guardian Of
our common rights. and the patron of our
common interests, and wisely containing
within itself a provision for its own amend
ment, as experience may point out its er.
rors, seems TO promise every thing that
can be expected from such an institution;
and ii supported by wise counsels, by vir.
tuous conduct, and oy mutual friendly al.
lowances, must approach as near to perfec.
ton as any human work can aspire, and
nearer than any which the annals of man.
mankind have recorded.
with these wishes and hopes | shall
make my exit from civil life; and | have
taken the same liberty Of expressing them.
which | formerly use IN Offering the senti.
ments which were suggested by my exit
from military HE.
'lf, in either instance, l have presumed
more than | ought, on the indulgence of
nv fellow citizens, they will DE too gencr-
GUS to ascrlbe it to any other cause than
the extreme sollcitude which | am bound
to feel, and which ! can never cease TO feel.
for their liberty their property, and hap.
p%iness."
Such is Mr.. Madison's draft, which was
evidently consulted in preparing the final
FareoeH ADD, ess, bot on a comparison of
the two. it will be found that there is but
little resemblance between them. In a
conversation on the subject. Mr.. Madison
said to me-, that he aimed chiefly 10 EXPRESS
the ideas contained in w~ashington's letter
with such additions only as were required
TO complete the form of an address. He
spoke IN high praise of the letter, as touch-
ing on the most essential topics in a con.