New-York tribune., 1874-09-14
Jefferson writing to DR.. Walter Jones in 1914

said - esf IT ~ -HN1\
do believe that Washington has mott firm confidence
IN the durability OF our Government He was hauray
distrusifuI Of nen and inclined TO gloomy apPrehen en-
SONS and persuaded that 9eiloi tna. we
must length end a something me- IKE Of ne
OF levees birthdays pompous meetings win "inI,td to
and other forms oI tne Co. same o.nHa which he believed
possible, aud TO let II come on with as htue shoeA
might be TO the public mind ....
The history of Washington's voluntary retirement
from the Chief Magstracy at the close of his second
term. and of the important precedent then estab-
E.hed would not be complete without it included
the action taken by Congress on his Farewell Ad'
dress.
AT the commencement of the next Congress a
committee was appointed By both houses according
to the custom of that day to prepare replies to the
address Jacob Read of South Carolina was Char-
man of the Senate Committee, ard William smith
of the same State, Chairman of the House COM
mittee We will give such portions OF Doth replies
a. are pertinent to the subject under consideration
The reply of the Senate ran as follows y
while contemplating the causes that produce ns ,n,s
auspicous result we must ackhow owieugo to9 81 the
Of the constitutional system, aud the wisdom o .he
legislative provisions but Tc should De aencIent
in gratitude and justice DID we not at,roufe ,,O
ness and talents Of your administration whicn @ napo
been conspcuousy displayed IN the most y
and on the most critical OCCASIONS ~ ,s @ ~, ,aI
with the sincerest regrets that now receive an
notification OF your intention TO retire from tno Pu0
empoyments OF your country
Wien we review the various OF your public
fe so long and successfully devoted 10 tue mJs h
ardnons services civil and military, well during the
struggles OF the American Revolution as the
periods OF recent date. we cannot ioek ior " o
ANXIOUS regards accompanying you, ana Without
mlngng with our felloweitizens at arge & IA ,ne S,
cerest wishes for your personal happiness tnas 'on'
bIlity mi attachment can express. A.,
The effectua consolation that can oner Ior tne
Ioas we are to sustain arises from tne
reflection that the influence OF your example WIN eAen
to your and the United states tnns
to enjoy able upright anu energeuc NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The reply of the House of Representatives ran as
follows:
And while we entertain grateful conviction that
your wise, firm. and patriotic administration mas been
signay conducive to the success OF the present form o
government, we cannot f0rbear to express the deep
sensations OF regret with which we contemplate your
intended retirement from Office ....... .o,,o.
As other suitable occasion NAV occur, we cannot
suffer the present pass without attempting to discover
some OF the emotions which II cannot fan to awaken
gratitude and admiration OF your countrymen are
t to the recollection OF those respondent vlr
tues and talents which were so eminenty Instrumental
to the achievement OF the reyouton aud OF whlch tht
glorious event Will ever be the memorial. Your ODedi-
ence voice of duty and your country when you
outted reuc cantly second time the retreat you had
chosen and first accepted the Presidency afforded a
new proof of the deyotedness Of your zeal In It's service
and an earnest patriotism and success which have
characterized your administration. AS the grateful
confidence the citizens In the virtues OF tnelr chle
magistrate has essentially contributed to that success
we persuade ourselves that the millions whom we repre-
sent paricpae with us In the anxious socitude Oi the
present occasion. " .
Yet we cannot be unmindful that y0nr moderation
and magnanimity, twice displayed by retiring from
your exalt stations, afford examples no less rare and
Instructive to mankind than valuable 10 a republic.
Although we are sensible that this event. OF ltself
compe tes luster Of character already conspeu-
ousy unrlyaled by the coincidence OF virtue, talents
success and public estimation yet we conceive we owe
IL 10 yo Sir and still more emphaticay 70 ourselves
and 10 our nation Of the language or whose hearts we
presume to think ourselves, at this moment, the faithful
interpreters) to express the sentiments with winch IL
Is contemplated.
The spectacle Of free and enlightened nation offering
y its the tribute OF unfegned apprODa
tion TO III first ctzn however novel and Interesting
must be- derives all ITS uster "a luster which accident
or ent could not bestow and which adulltlon
would tarnish) the transcendent merit, OF which
il Is the voluntary testimony.
Nav you long enjoy that liberty which is so dear to
YOU and to which your will ever be dear; may
your virtue and nations prayers obtain the hap
pest sunshine for tie decline Of your days, and the
choicest OF future blessings For our counry's sake
for the sake republican liberty 1t Is our earnest wish
that your example may be the guide OF your uceessos
and thus, after being the ornament and safeguard OF
the present age become the pitrmony of our descend
ants.
The most careless reader of these addresses will
scarcely fail to be struck with the commendation
bestowed uuon the Presidents voluntary retirement
from an emlnence where very few if any seemed
disposed to disturb him. and with the Importance
they agreed in attaching to his example.