, 1862-02-22
WASHINGTONS
FAREWELL ADDRESS,

,ime actually arrived when your thoughts must
'e employed IN designating the person who is
o be clothed with that important trust, it ap-
pears to me proper, especially as it may con
luce to more distinct expression Of the pub-
ie voice, that should now apprise you Of the
'esolution have formed to decline being con |
:iaered among the number Of those Of whom j
/ choice Is to be made.
l beg You at the same time to do me the |
Justice to be assured that this resolution has |
not been taken without a strict regard to all i
The conscientious appertaining to the relation |
which binds q dutitu1 citizen to his country; !;
and that, in withdrawing the tender Of service |
which silence 1n my situation might imply, I |
your future interest; 10 deficiency Of grateful i
respect for your past kindness; but am sup
ported By a full conviction that the step is
compatible with both.
The acceptance Of, and continuance hither-
to in, tie Office to which your sufIrages have
twice called me, have been uniform sacrifice
Of inclination to the opinion of duty, aud to
deterence to what appeared to be your DESIRE
constantly hoped that it would have been
much earlier III my power, consistently with
motives which was not at liberty to disre-
gard, to return to that retirement from which
I had been reluctantly drawn. The strength
Of my INCLINATION to do this prev1ous to the
List election had even led to the preparation
Of an address to declare it to you; but mature
posture Of our aftairs With foreign nations, and
1he unanimous advice Of persons entitled to
my confidence, impel1ed me to abandon the
idea.
rejoice that the state Of your concerns, ex-
pursuit Of inclination incompatible with the
sentiment Of duty or propriety; and am per-
su2dcd whatever partia1ity lnay be retained
for my services, that, in the present circum-
stances Of our country, you will not disap-
prove my determination to retire:
T frcf5
took the arduous task Tere explained on the
proper occasion In the discharge of this trust
viii sn1y say that have, with good inten-
tions, contributed towards the Organization
and administration Of the Government the best
exertions Of which a very fall1ble Judgment
was capable Not unconscious in the outset
Of the inferiority Of my qualifications, expert
eucc, IN my Own eyes, perhaps still more in
tue eyes Of others, has strengthened the mo-
tives to difidence Of myself; and every day the
Increasing weight Of gears admonishcs me
more and more that the shade Of retirement is
as necessary to me as twill be welcome. Sat-
isfed that, if any circumstances have given pc
| cullaT value to my services, they were tempora-
II, have the consolation to believe that, while
choice and and prudence invite ME to quit
t9s "a political E. sssns patriotism docs not Tor
In looking forward to tile moment which is
| intended to terminate the career Of my public
| life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend
| the deep acknowledgment of the debt Of graft
tude which lowe to nv beloved country for
| the many Aonors it has conferred upon me;
| still more for the steadfast confidence with
! which it has supported me; and for the Dppor-
| tunities have thence enjoyed of nanifesting
| my 1nvio1able attachment by services faithful
| and perscycr5ng, though in usefulness unequal
| to my zeal. # benefits have resulted to our
! country from these services, let it always be
| remembered to ourpraise, and as an instruc-
tive example in our annals that, under cir
cunlstances in witch the passions, agitated
| in every direction, were liable to nlislead,
amidst appearances sometimes dubious, yici=.
| itudcs Of fortune often discouraging, in situa-
! tions in which not unfrequentlY want Of
| success has countenanced the spirit Of criti-
| cisn1, The constancy OF your support Was tie
essential prop Of the efforts, and q guarantee
Of the plans By which they were effected Pro-
foundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry
it with me to my grave, as strong inclte-
nent to unccasing yows that Heaven may con-
tinue 70 you tlie choicest tokens Of its bencf-
ecnce; that your union and brotherly aftec-
ton may be perpetual; that the free consti.
tuition which is the work Of your hands, may
he sacredly maintained; that its administra.
ton in every department. may be stamped
with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the
happiness OF the people Of these States, under
the auspices Of liberty, rnay be made complete
by SO careful q preservation and SO prudcnt (
use Of this blessing as viii acquire to then
the glory Of recommending it to the applause
the affection, and adoption Of every natior
which is yet stranger to it.
Here, perhaps, I ought to stop. But so1ici
tude for your welfare, which cannot end bul
natural to that solicitudc, urge me, on an oe
casion like the present, to offer to your solemn
| contemplation, and to recommend to you
frequent review, some sentiments which ar
| the result Of much reflection, Of no inconsid
erable observation, and which appear to Ill
. a1f.1 n the nf
| Lefty q people. These will be offered t.
you with the more freedom as you can onl
J see III them the disintercstcd warnings Of
. parting friend, who can possibly have no Fer
. eonal motive to bias his counsel. Nor can
, forget, as an encouragement to it, your In
. dulgent reception Of my sentiments on
ior1ncrnnd not dissimu]ar occasion.
interviewer rs is the love Of liberty Wit
every 1iganent Of your hearts, no recommen
dation Of mine is necessaryto fortify or col
firm the attachment.
5 The unity Of government, Which const
5 tutes you one people, is also now dear to yoI
:; It is justly go; for it Is d main pillar in tt
ediiiee Of your real independence; the SUI
port Of your tranquility at home, your peat
o abroad; Of gonr saiety; Of your prosperity
But rs 1t is easy to foresee that, from du1ercs
0. causes and different quarters, much pains vi
- be taken, many artfhccs employed, to weakt
q in your minds the conviction Of this truth
n | as LUIS Is tac polnt II Jour poutlca lof1ic
AGAINST ~nicn inc % na1tcfacs o1 ln1e1hsn ano
ternai enemies "ll1 oe most con:Ianl!y a.
acufeN ttnouSn oiteu toseluy aua lMsio1ou
" a1tectca, y u .! maultS .; lheaieae tuae 3
s9onlu ProPelas Gsea!nate tne M141use n1les sal
u son1 uaSlon'. onAou " your SotiSeSSt -
m l 1nonigul n33Rpness: taaa son snoula Ssesa
IL cutona, n.otu, aau 1.uuiosaolc atsacniis u
l. speak Of it OF the palladium of your poll
r. cal safety and prosperity; watching for
y presefSaI'on Will jealous ahXlety, olscoun!
# nanc1ng Whatever may Suggest even saspl
:, ion !iiat II can ~ any event oe aoanoonet
u ana Indignantly 1roWnlng upon Tue INST daw
IS lng OF every attempt 70 ancna1e any poftit
J. q ouf count1} 1Ioi1 tue fes., CT 10 Gnlceu
w.. ine sacred ues WHICH, no" nah 1osetner u
20 various parts.
IS Iof tms YOU nave every inaaeemcnl ol 81
Is paInS ano mtrfcst- Cl11Zcns, " plftn
IN cAolce, OF common county, 1hat count
- las f1ght 70 concentrate your affectlof
u me hamc OF AMERICAN, "Ilcn pelonss 70 =
your nanonal capacl&y. must Always cX'
C ehe 3ust Pnae o1 Pat1ao''sH n1ofe 1nan a.
:, 4}.pGllaaon oc@aSeo from tocal DISCRIMINATION
WAN sught ehaaes OF un1efe1cc yon haSe I
a sa!ae IG.lglon, manneis. hao1ss, ana PollMt
1t tlnarss; aou maSc " u common Gan
a. ieugn. auu ,S1ttunpnso n togeIuet; Inc 1naeIt
unte t ' Hnu noGsJ sou HvesSss nv ~ "ol h
% !o. counsgas ,,aas ano ~ Jotu. % snorts' VI COMM
ie oapEeis, saneln5s a.su':e aao sassees.
Ter nu. 1esS cone'4s.as.ods, 4s, ~" esea po"
nd NC! ',out "tSs tes ..tz5 ~ 49, ~ ~
ns. .s S'G.ay : S:s..1s s"S.sneo t ~ Lnose Wnl
IPp's ae mele amsustay .t,asa ~ ~ ~ svuI nsote
10y eseas poa1ou p. ~. out souitie uous
most commanding motives f0r carefully qua
nc ing and preserving tile Union Of the whole