The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1860-09-05
Washington's Farewell Address,

nate the of my political life my feelings do not
permit to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that
debt of gratitude whch owe to my beloved country for
the many h0nors 1t has conferred upon me- still more
for the steadfast confidence with which has supported
me- and for the opportunities have thence enjoyed Of
manifesting my inyoable attachment by services faith
full and persev6rng though in usefulness unequal to my
ZEAL II benefits have resulted TO country from these
services be to your praise and
as an instructive example in annals that, under
circumstances In which the PASSIONS agtated in every
direction, were liable to misead-amdst appearances
sometimes MISUNDERSTANDING of fortune often dis
courgaglng-ln situations IN which unfrequenty want
OF success has countenanced the spirit Of cricsm-he
consancy OF your support was the essential prop of the
efforts, and guarantee OF the plans, by which they
were effected Profoundly penetrated with this idea,
shall carry 1t with me TO my grave, as strong nce-
ment to uneeasng wishes, that Heaven may continue 70
you the choicest tokens OF its benitcence-that your
union and brotherly affection may be perpetual-that
the free constitution which Is the work of your hands
may be sacredly mantalned-that It's administration IN
every department may pc stamped with wisdom and
yiruetha IN ne the happiness OF the people of these
States, under the auspices OF liberty, may be made
complete, BY so careful preservation, aud SO prudent
use OF tins blessing as VIII acquire to them the glory
OF recommending IL 10 te applause, the aHecton, ana
attention OF every nation which IS yet stranger TO t.
Here, perhaps, ought 70 stop But sohctude Tor
your welfare, which cannot end but with my lie aud
the apprehension OF DANGER natural to that soctude
urge me- occasion like the present to offer 70 your
solemn contemplation, and to recommend to your fre
quent review some sentiments which are the result Of
much renecuon, OF no lnconsiderabe observation and
which appear to me all-lnp ~ thp permancneT Of
your felicity as people These VIII be offered TO you
with the more freedom, as you can only see ~ them the
dlslnterested warnings Of parting friend, who cah pos
sbly have no personal motives 20 bias his counsel Nor
can forget as an encouragement % IT, your ndugeu
reception OF my sentiments on former ana uot dssim
lar occasion.
interviewer as IS the love Of liberty with every hga
ment Of our hearts, no recommendation pi miue iH
necessary to tortiy or confirm the attachment
The unity Of the government, which constitutes sou
people, is also dear u YOU II Justify SOS Tor
1t Is mann pillar m the edhce o. your rreundePohaeHee
/ the support of your tranquility AZ humci your peace
abroad Of your safety; Of your prosperity Of that Yry
liberty which You highly prize. Bat as ( s eaag tV
foresee, that from different causes and from different
quarters, much pains will be taken, many Hfees EN-
poyed to weaken in your minds the conviction ut fhs
truth; this is the point ID your political fortress against
which the batteries ofnterual aud external enemies *
be most constantly and actively though often eofet
and luslduousyl directed IL ul INFINITE m9Hifnl thai
YOU should properly estimate the immense value u Sour
national union to your collective aud individual baHT.
ness: that YOU should cherish 4 cordial hshitUal aud
immoveabe attachment 10 W accustOHing yourselves Go
think and to speak Of as palladium of yuHr political
safety and prosperv watching for its preservation Nth
Jealous an xietv ph8iereffuav suggest
even suspicion that tcau la any event be abandoned
and Indignantly trownnp upan the hfss aaNu.ua ui
every ptteppt ID ALLEVIATE Nuy portion uf ear c9H8tT
from the res or 10 epEppbIe Tie sacred ties which aU
/ Iirt t,ystl,er Tho .varinus mart.
For this vou have every nducemrHt 80 symputhv #Hd
interest Citizens by birth or choice. u 4 cnmmau
country that country has "A right 10 concentrate raur
affections The name Of AugnicAs which belong. 10
YOU in your national capacity must Alwats r1af she
inst pride Of patriotism more than any nppeilaiuH de
rived from local determinations With slight Shades VI
d;a % Nave tfa sar,,e religion ,nao,ar. habst-
and political principle You have iu common caHse
fought and trumphed together: the independence and
iberty vnn possess arc ne work uf i1nt efl1ftsai
common dangers suIerings and success
! But these considerations however powerfully fhty
address themselves to your seusibig are greatly cut
WEIGHED by those which aupIy more immediately EHur
interest Here every portion of our country uuds tha
most commanding motives for carefully guarding and
nrn.eryin1 tbq union If the whole
The north in an unresruiBcd intercourse vita thf
south protected by the equal laws Of a common govern
mpnt finds in the PRODUCTIONS of tbe latter great add
tiona resources OF maritime audvommercin enterprise
and urecions metals of manufacturing industry an,
~L 4; tbe sarpe intarcourse baneHftipp by thr Same
o,cnrv nf tbe north sees ~ agfcuure prew ana IT.
commerce expand Turning partly into ifs oRnchanuei,
the saaren oi te north IL finds ia navigation
inyiyorated-and while It contributes IL different way
to 9,,rish and n,oase the general mass of tAe nutiona
NAVIGATION it looks forward 10 the protection mari
timr strength 10 u hch itsulfs uug0uAy adapted 1hi
east IN Ike intercourse with the WeAt already huts j.
the progressive improvement ofnteror communication
by and aud water and viii more and more nd talua
bic vent for the commodities which brings from abroad
or manufactures at home The west derives FROM th
east supplies requisite for its growth and comfort an'
what H. perhaps ofSu greater consequence, must o
necessity the secure enjoyment Ot iudlspeusah
outlets for its own productions the weight influence
and the future maritime strength y thc Atlantic sdg
the Union, directed by an indssouble community y 10
terest as one nation. Any other tenure " Nhieh th
west can hold this essential advantage whether derlse
from its separate strength or from an upoaiae am
unnatural connection with any foreign power must b.
intrnsicaly precarious.
While, then, every part OF our country thus lce's ~
immediate aud particular interest IA union an tne pal
combined cannot fail TO find ~ the united mass Oh mean
and efforts greater strength greater resource PaP'
tonably greater security from eNterha uaHRer' les
frequent interruption OF their peace b3 IoIesu Hatn
and, what Of lnestlmab'e value they must derive wv
an exemption from those bFos ana wars pet"ee 'lsH
selves, which 50 frequently ailet nelghDoing countries
not tied together by the same government hhch thei
rvalships alone would be sufficient 10 produce; ou
which opposite foreign alliances attachments, and ~
tIigues stimulate and embiter. Hence, likewise the
will avoid the necessity Of those oyergroWn mlltar
establishments which, under any form Of government
are inauspcous liberty and which are to be regarde
as particularly hostile to republican liberty IN TN
sense is that your union ought to be considered a.
main prop OF your liberty and that the love of the on
ought to endear you the preservation Of the other
These considerations speak persuasive language I
every rejecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit tn
continuance Of the union primary object OF patro
desire. Is there a doubt whether common govern
ment can embrace so large sphere? Let experienc
solve it. To listen to mere speculation IN such cas-
we're criminal We authorised to hope that prope
organisation ofshe whole with the auxiliary agency
governments for the respective subdivisions will aior
hapuy issue of the experiment. 1t Is wellworth ta
and full experiment. With such powerful and obYou
motives to union affecting all parts of our country
while experience shall not have demonstrated its IN
practicabity there will always be reason to dlstru
the patriotism of those who in any quarter may endeayC
to weaken its bands.