The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-22
TIL Z DISP ATC III.
MONDAY MoRNIN0... .,...pEBRUARY %. isss
FAREWELL ADDRESS
OF
GEORGE WASHINGTON
PRESIDENT,
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES

not far distant and the time actually arrived when
your thoughts must be employed in designating
the person who Is to be clothed with that impor.
tant trust II appears TO proper especially ii
may conduee 10 a more distinct expression OF the
public voice that should now apprize you of the
resolution have formed, to decline being consid-
cred among the number Of those ont OF whom a
choice is TO be made.
beg you. at the same time to do me the Justice
to be assured that this resolution has not been
Ken without strict regard TO all the considera-
tions appeTtaining to the relation which binds 81
dutiiui citizen TO his country; aud that In with
drawing the tender OF service, which silence, in my
situation, might imply, am iafiuenced 10y nc di-
minution of zeal for your future interest; no de
hcency OF grateful respect for your past kindness
but am supported 10y full conviction that the step
is compatible with both.
The acceptance Of and continuance hitherto inthe
Office to which your sufirages have twice called me,
have been uniform sacrifice OF inclination to the
opinion of duty and TO difference for what appeared
to be your desire. | constantly hoped that it
would have been much earlier in my power. con-
sistently with motives which WAS not at liberty
TO disregard, 10 return To that retirement from
which had been II oluctantly drawn. The strength
Of my inclination TO do this previous to the last
election, had even led to the preIaratou of nm ad-
dress 10 declare it TO you bur mature reflection ON
the then perplcXed and critical posture of our af.
fairs with foreign nations, aud the unanimous adj
vice ofpersoDs entitled TO my confidence, impelled
me to abandon the idea.
nal we'll as internal, no longer renders the pur-
suit OF inclination incompatible with the sentiment
OF duty or prOpriety; aud am persuaded, whatever
par'iality may be retained for my services, that,
in the present circumstances Of onr country you
will not disapprOye my determination to retire.
The impressions with which | first undertook
the arduous trust, were explained Oh the proper
occasion. In the discharge Of this trust, will
only say, that have, with good intentions contri
buted towards the organization aud administration
of he of q
very islible judgment capable. Not uncon-
scions In the outset of the inferiorty of my quail
fcations. experience, in my own eyes--perhaps
still more in the eyes of othsrs-has rengthened
the motives to diiidence of myself; and every day
the increasing weight of years admoaishes me
more and more, that the shade of retirement ia as
necessary to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied
that if any circumstances have given peculiar
value to my services, they were temporary, | have
the consolation to believe that. while choice and
prudence invite me to quit the political scene. pA
triotism does not forbid it,
In locking forward to the moment which is in
tended to terminate the career Of my public life
my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deer
ackuow led gme9t of that debt Of gratitude VIII iCl
| owe to my beloved country for the many honors
il has conferred upon me: still more for the stead
fast confidence with which il has supported me
and Tor the opportunities have thence enjoyed o
manifestiug my inYolable attachment, by services
faithful and perseyeriug, though in usefulness un
equal to my zeal Ifbcnefits have resulted to our
country from these services, let it always be re
membered to your praise. and an instructive
example i'll Onr annals, that, under circuma stances
in which the passions. agitated in every direction
were liable to misead, amidst appearances some
times dubious, vcissitudes OF fortune often discou
raging in situations in which, not unfreduently.
want Of success has countenanced the spirit OF
Criticsnl--the coDstancy of your support was the
essential prop of the el!ortsand guarantee of the
plans by which they were effected. Profoundly
penetrated with this idea, shall carry it with ne
a. atF ina m rtpca aaCiVt
vows, that Heaven may continue to you the choic-
est tokens OF its beniticence: that your union and
brotberly affection may be perpetual: that the
free Constitution which is the work of your hands
may be sacredly maintained; that its administra
| ton. in every department may be stamped with
| wisdom and virtue, that in tine the happiness OF
the people OF these States under the the auspices
| of liberty, may be made complete, by so careful n
preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing
az will acquire to them the glory of recommend
ing 1t to the applause the affection and the adop
tion of every nation which is yet stranger to il
| Here, perhaps, ought to stop but solictude
! for your welfare, which cannot end but with my
| life. and the apprehension OF danger natural to
| that socitude, urge me, on al occasion like the
| present, to offer to your solemn C0ntemp plation
| aud to recommend to your frequent review. some
| sentiments which are the result of much reftc
tion, OF no lncODslderaDle observation and which
| appear to me allimportant to the permanency OF
| your felicity rs people. These will lie afforded
! to you with tho more freedom, you can only
! see in them the dsiuterested warnings OF o part
| Ing friend, who can possibly have no personal mo
tive to bias his counsel; nor can forget, as ell
! conragement to it, your iudugeut reception O
my sentiments on IA former and not disslmilar oc
| casi0B.
interviewer as is the love of liberty with ever,
ligament Of your hearts, recommendation o.
mine is necessary 10 fortiiy or confirm the attach
meut.
The unity of government, which constitutes you
one people, is also now dear to you. 1t is justly
|
| independence-the support of your tranquility al
home, your peace abroad, OF your safety, of your
prosperity, of that very liberty which you 50 high
ly prize. But as il Is easy to toresee that, from
different causes aud from different quarters much
pains Will be taken, many articles employed to
weaken in your minds Ehe conviction of this truth
as this is the point in your political fortress
against which the batteries Of internal and exter
nal enemies will be most constantly and actively
(though often coFertly aud Insidlousy directed r.
it is OF infinite moment that you should properly
estimate the immense value of your national union
to your collective aud individual happiness: that
you should cherish cordial, habii ual, aud i'm
movable attachment to it, acGustoming yourselyes
| to think and speak of it as Of the palladium o
your political safety and prosperity; watching fol
its preservation with jealous anxiety; discounte
nanCiug whatever may suggest even suspicion
that it can in any event, be abandoned: aud indig
nantly frOwning upon the frst dawning OF every
I attempt 10 ALLEVIATE any portion of our countr,
from the rest, or TO enfeebIe the sacred ties which
now link together the various parts.
For this you have every inducement of sympa
thy and interest. Citizens by birth choice, OF
/ common country, that country has right to con-
centrate your affections: 1he name of .1lae1lcdh
which belongs to you ia your national capacity
| must always eXait the just pride OF patriotism
more than any appelation derived from local die
ordinations. With slight shades of difference
you have the same religion manners, habits aud
political principles, You have, in common
| cause, fought and triumphed together; the inde
pendence and liberty you possess are the work o.
joint counsels and joint efforts, of common dan
gers, sutferngs and successes.
But these considerations, however powerfully
they address themselves to your sensibility, are
greatly outweighed by those who apply more ini
medately to your interest; here every portion Of
our cocntry firds the most commanding motives
for careful y harding and preserving the union
of the whore.
The North, in an uurestraned intercourse with
the South, protected by the equal laws of com.
mon government fuds in the productions Of the
latter. great additional resources OF maritime and
commercial enterprise, and precious materials Of
manufacturing industry. The South, in the same
intercourse, beueting by the agency of the North,
sees its agriculture grow, and its commerce ex-
pand. Turning partly into its own channels the
seamen Of the North, il finds its particular navi
CATION uygorated; and while il contributes, in diff
ferent ways, to nourish aud increase the general
mass of the national navigation, it looks forward
to the protection of a maritime strength to which
itself is equally adapted The East, in like inter
course with the West, already finds, and in the
progressive improvement Of interior communica-
lion, by land and water, will more and more find,
a valuable vent for the commodities which it
brings from abroad or manufactures at home The
West derives from the East supplies requisite TO
it's growth and comfort; and what is perhaps oil
still greater consequence, it must OF necessity
owe the secure enjoyment of indispensable outlets
for its own productions, TO the weight, influence,
and the future maritime strength of the Atlantic
side of the Union, directed by an indiszoinble
community OF interest one nation. ANY other
tenure by which the West can hold this essential
advantage, whether derived from its own seperaie
strength, OF from apostate and unnatural con
nection with any foreign power, must be intrinsi-
eally precarions.
While. then, every part of our country thus feels
an mmediate and particular interest In union, all
the parts combined cannot fail 10 find, IN the ani
ted mass of means and efforts, greater strength,
greater resource, proportionably greater security
from external danger, or less frequent interrup.
"