Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-03-14
w &NAPOSTS,,,, ..s-...s. ss,... isisl''-
s,s.ssA,.- IL. ~ p - fs,.ss.N -n-s[S
'NSzz| ~ ><<SsstPT1Gl dasff ~,
-By Government EE 2ress !
AND NOT EXPRESS from RoYAIToG m
FAREWELL ADDRESS
ANDREW JAGEg0Ns
TO TIE PEOPLE OF THE U. STATES

~ TIE PEOPLE OF The i. STATES.
Fellow citizens Bong about 10 retire from
public lie, beg leave 10 offer you my grateful
thanks for the many proofs Of Kindness &. con.
fidenca which | have received at your hands.
II has been my fortune, 10 tho discharge of
public duties, civil and military, frequently to
have found myself in difficult and trying stu
ntions, where prompt decision and energetic
action were NECESSARY, and where the interest
Of the country required thai high responsible
ties should be iearlessy encountered und il is
with the deepest emotions Of gratitude that
acknowledge the continued and unbroken con.
fdonce with which you have sustained me in
every trial. My public life has been long one
and cannot hope that it has, at all times. been
free from crtors. But | have the consolation
Of knowing that, il mistakes have been commit
ted, they have not seriously injured the country
| so anXiously endeoyored TO serve; e., at the
moment when surrendermy last public trust
leave this great people prosperous & happy
in the full enjoyment Of liberty and peace and
honored and respected by every nation OF the
world.
If my humble efforts have ia any degree con-
iributed 10 preserve TO you these blessings,
have been mole than rewarded BY the donors
you have henped upon me and above all, by
the generous confidence with which you have
supported me in every peril, & Hilh which you
have continued TO animate and cheer my path
TO the closing hour of my political life. Tho
time has now come, " hen advanced age and a
broken frame warn me 10 retire from public
concerns but the recollection Of the many ia
gors you have bestowed upon me is engrayen
upon my heart, and have felt that could not
part from your service without making this
public acknowledgment Of the gratitude owe
you. And i'll use the occasiou TO offer to you
the counsels Of age and experience, you will, |
trust, receive them with the same udu,5ont
kindness which you so often extended to me !;
and will, at least, see in them a earnest desire
10 T.rpetuate, in this favored land, the bless
inSs OF liberty and equal laws.
We have now lived almost fifty years
under the constitution framed by the sages
and patriots of the revolution. The con-
hcis in which the nations Of Europe were
engaged during great part o this period /;
the spirit in which they waged war against
each Others and our intimate commercial
connections with every part Of The civilized
world, rendered il . time Of much difficulty
for the Government OF the United States.
We have had our seasons of peace and
war with all he evils which precede On
iollow state Of hostility with powerful
nations. We encountered these trials with
our constitution yet in It's Infancy, and un-
der the disadvantages which new and
untried Government must always feel when
it is called upon 10 put forth its whole
strength without The lights of experience
TO guide il, or the weight OF precedents to
Justify IT'S measures. But we have passed
triumphan,ly through all these difficulties.
Our constitution is no longer a doubtful
~. nd he al at lu hnlF
a century, we find that it has preserved
unmpafed the liberties Of the people, Sc
cured the rights Of property. and that our
country has improved and is Auurishing be-
You'd any former example in the history Of
nations.
In our domestic concerns there IS every
thing TO encourage us; and you are true
To yourselves, nothing can impede your
march 10 the highest point OF national
prosperity. The States which have been
so long retarded in heir Improvement by
Indian tribes residing in the midst OF them,
are at length relieved from the evil and
ibis unhappy race-tle original dweers Of
our and--are row placed in situation
where we may well hope that they viii
share in the blessings ofcvilizatio and be
saved from that degradation and deslruc-
ton to which they are rapidly fastening
while ,hey remain IN the States; and while
the safety and comfort OF our citizens have
been greatly promoted by their removal,
the philanlroplst will rejoice that the rem
nant of that -luled race has been al length
placed beyond the reach of injury or OPP
pressIun, and that the parental care OF the
General Government will hereafter watch o.
yer them and protect them.
1t we turn 10 our relations with foreign
powers, we find our condition equally gra.
iliyinI. Acluated ly me sincere desire to
do Justice 10 every nation, and 10 preserve
The blessings oi peace, nnr intercourse with
diem has been conducted on the part ul this
government in the spirit OF irankness, and
take pleasure in saying, thnli has generally
heea met in a corresponding temper DIFF
fcullies Of old standing have been sur
mounted by friendly discussion, and The
our citizens, which mad been lurg Withheld
have NJ length been acknowledged aud adj
lusied, and satisfactory arrangements made
Tor their iinal payni~n'; and whha limited
and, trust, a temporary exception, ou
relations with every lureign power are now
of the most friendly character-ogr com
mcrce com luuaIly expanding, and our nag
respected in every quurer Of the world
These cheering AID grateful pr,Spects
and these multiplied fovors, we owe, under
( Providence, 10 The adoption oi the iedera
constitution. Il is no longer n question
wh, ther lhs great country can remaiI
happily united, and flourish under Our pre-
sent iolm of government. Experience, The
unerring tcsl OF all human undertaking.
has shown The wisdom aud foresight o
those who formed il; and have proved, tina
IN the union of these States, there is sure
foundation Tor The brightest hopes of free
dom, nnd inr The honntnecs of The neonle