The Penn's Grove record., 1923-09-07
wAsHINGToN's LAST WORDS
To The People of The United States
September, 1896

Inc per lDli. DL-d lEA- eIEGLl0l u
citizens. TO administer the eXecutiv
government Of the United States, be
not far diStant-and the time actu
ually arrived when your thought.
must be employed in designating tn,
person who Is to be clothed with tina
important trust-it appears to m
proper. especially as it may conduc
TO a more distinct expression of tn,
public voice. that l should now ap
prise you of the resolution l hayI
formed, TO decline being considered
among the number out of whom ;
choice IS TO be made.
Il beg you, at the same time, to dc
me the justice to be assured, that this
resolution has not been taken withou.
a strict regard to all the considera
tons appertaining to the relation
which binds a dutiful citizen to his
country; and that, in withdrawing the
tender of service, which silence in my
situation might imply, | am influenced
by no diminution of zeal for youl
future interest, no deficiency OF
grateful respect for your past kind
ness; but am supported by a full con-
v%iction, that the step is compatible
with both.
The acceptance of, and continuance
hitherto in the office to which your
suffrages have twice called me, have
been a uniform sacrifice of inclination
to the opinion of duty, and to a de-
fence to what appeared to be your de-
sire. l constantly hoped, that it would
have been much earlier in my power,
consistently with motives which | was
not or lhar+v~ 70 lfr,o,ra1 VI T., 1o+,,I,,
to that retirement from which | had
been reluctantly drawn. The strength
of my inclination to do this, previous
to the last election, had even led to
the preparation of an address to de
clare it to you; but mature reflection
on the then perpleXed and critical pos
ture of u affairs with foreign ma
lions, and the unanimous advice of
persons entitled to my confidence, i'm
PEELED NE to abandon the idea.
81 rejoice that the state of your con-
Germs, external as we'll as internal, no
longer renders the pursuit of inclina-
ton Incompatible with the sentiment
of duty of ~prOpriety; and am persuad-
ed, whatever partially may be re-
tanned for my services, you will not
dlsapprove my determination to re-
tire.
"The impressions with which l first
undertook the arduous trust, were ex-
planned on the proper occasion. In
the discharge of this trust, l will say,
that have, with good intentions, con-
trlbuted towards the organization and
administration of the government, the
best exertions of which a very fallible
judgment was capable. No uncon-
sclous, IN the outset, of the inferior
ity of my qualifications, experience in
my own eyes, perhaps still more in the
eyes of others, has strengthened the
motives to diffidence of myself; and
every day the increasing weight of
years admonishes me more and more
that the shade of retirement is an
necessary TO me as it will be welcome.
Satisfied that if any circumstances
have given peculiar value to my ser
vices faithful and persevering, though
the consolation to believe, that while
choice and prudence invite me to quit
the political scene, patriotism does not
forbid it.
I'm looking forward to the moment
which is intended to terminate the
Of my public life, my feelings
do not permit me to suspend the deep
acknowledgement of that debt of graf
ituda which | owe to my beloved
country, for the many honors it has
conferred up on me; still more for the
stedfast confidence with which it has
supported me; and for the ]oppOrtuni-
ties | have thence enjoyed of manifest
ing my invioable attachment, by ser
vices faithful an dpersevering, though
in usefulness unequal to my zeal. IF
benefits have resulted to our country
from these services, let it always be
remembered to your praise, and as an
instructive example in our annals,
that, under the circumstances, in
which the passions agitated in every
direction. were liable to mislead-
amidst appearances somtimes dubious
-vicissitudes of fortune often dis
couraging-in situations in which not
unfreQuertly want Of success has
c-ountenanced the spirit of criticism
the c~onstancy of your support was the
essential prop of the effort. and q
guarantee Of the plans by which thew
were Effected. Profoundly penetrated,
this idea, | shall carry it with me
to my grave, as q strOnP Indictment
to unceasing vow that Heaven may
cont rue vour union and b~rotherlv
aff rtoa nay re ~PerDetUall that the
e~1s .itution which Is the work
trrr bends m"v he sacrodlv main
+ai~e}. that its administration in
7saa-- 5-rartmca+ rsy he STAMPED
r. arl v'r+not that, in fine.
-ho t@rnine- of the people If those
a.. frd.~ The arspices Of Heaven.