Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-07

| w nllo lOORlDg over an Oid UOOk, pTluLeo Ill
Philadelphia in 1914 found the following inter-
| cstinS
| ADDRESS
| Of tho Mayor of Alexandrla to General Wash
| ington on his leaving that neighborhood to
| tako on him tho office Of Presidency Of the
| United States-l7S9:
! "a gain your country commands your care.
Obedient to its wishes, unmindful OF your ease,
wo see you again relinG uiShiDg the bliss Of re-
! fremont, and this, too, ri period CT life when
nature itself seems TO authorize preference OF
| repose.
Not TO extol your glory ss ~ soldier; not to
pour forth our gratitude for past services; Hot to
| acknowledge the justice OF the uncxemD!ed
! honor which has been conferred upon you by
| tho spontaneous and unanimous suffrage OF
three millions of freeman in your election tc the
supreme msgistracy nor TO ad L!re the patriotism
which directs your conduct, DO your nelghDors
and friends now address you. Themes less
splendid but more endcaring impress our minds.
The first and best of citizens must leave US our
aged must lose their ornament; our youth their
model our agriculture its !mprover; our CON-
] merce It's friend our infant academy its protec-
tor; our poor their bcneiactor, and the interior
navigation of the Potomac (&n event replete
with the most extensive utility, already, by your
unremilted cxertions. brought into partsl use,>
it's institutor and promoter
Farewell. GO. and mako u grateful people
happy-s people who will bc doubly grstetul
AS'
their interest
ITO that Being who maketh and unmaketh
at His will, wo commend you; and after the ac-
complishment of the arduClls business TO which
you arc called, may He restore TO US again tho
best Of mon, and the most beloved citlzen.
GEN. wAsElNGToS's REPLY.
Observation-Disclosures l ought not to conceal
yet cannot describe the painful emotions which
! folt in being called upon to determine whether
l would accept or refuse the Presidency OF tho
United States. Tho unanimty i'll the choice
the opinion of my friends communicated from
different parts Of Europe, rs we'll as from Amer.
lea; tho apparent wish of those VINO wcrc not
entirely satisfied with the coisIu1loil III r.s pa
sent form, and an ardent desire on my own part
to be instrumental in connecting tho good VIII!
of nv courtrymen towards each other, havo
induced an acceptance. Those who know me
best land you, my fellow citizens, aro from
your situation, in that NUMBER know better
than any others my love Of retirement Is SO
great that no oarthy consideration snort Oh IA
conviction OF duty would have prevailed upon
me to depart from my resolution never moro le
tako any share iE transactions ol a puDllc ma
ture ) for at m7 age. and IN my CIRCUMSTANCES,
what prospects or advantages could lpToposoto
myself from mbarkng again or tho tempestu'
Gus and Uncertain ocean OF public lie
81 do not feel mysof undcr tho necessity or
making public declarations in order to convinco
you, gentlemen, Of my attachment TO yourselves
and regard for your Interests. The Whoie tenor
of my life has been open to your inspection,
and my past actions, rather than my present
declarations must be tho pledge OF my future
conduct.
"In the moan time, thank you most sincere
y for the expressions Of kindness cuntalned IN
your vsledictory address. 1t i; lruo, Just aitcr
having bado sdieu TO my domestic connexions,
this tender proof of your friendship Is but TOO
woll calculated still further to awaken my sem
sibility and increase my regret at parting from
the enjoyments of private life.
"All that now remains Tor mo IS TO commt
myself and you to the protection OF that beneh'
cent Being, wh', on :. former ocesslcn, 1 hn,a Md
happily brought US together after T. long ana
distressing separation. Perhaps Tho ssmo gra-
cious Providence will agaia indulge me. Un-
uttersble sensations must then DC left to more
expressive silence, while from III ach!ng heart
bid I'll my alfectonsLc friends and kind neigh
bors farewell"