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Show 412 INAUGURAL AND FAREWELL ADDRESSES. butes which can win the a[ections of its citizens, and com. mand the respect of the world. I dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which au ardent love fur my eountr can in, pire: since there is no truth more thoroughly e~tab~ li.'hcd, than that there exists in the economy and course of n:tture an indis oluble union between virtne and happiness- between duty aud advantage-between the genninc maxims of an hone, t and magnanimous policy, and tho solid rewaruR of pulJiic prosperity and felicity; since \ve oug-ht to be no Jess persuaded that the propitious smiles of IIcaven cau never be expected on a nation that di Tegards the eternal rules of order and right, which 1Ieaven itself has ordaiucd; and sin ce tho preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the de tiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered as deeply, pethaps as finally, staked, on the experiment intrusted to the hands of the American people. Besides the ordinary objects submitted to your care it will remain with your judgment to decide how far an 'exercise of the occasional power delegated by the fif'Lh arLicle ?f the Constitution, is rendered expedient at the present JUn~ture, by the nature of olJjectious which have been urged agawst the system, or by the degl'ee of inquietude which has given birth to them. Instead of undcrlaking purLieu. lar recommendations on this sul>ject, in which I could be guided by no lights derived from official opportunities, I shall again give way to my entire confidence in yonr dis· cerumeut and pursuit of the public good; for, I assure myself, that whilst you ca-refully avoid every alteration which might endanger the benefits of an united and effective government, or whieh ought to await the future lessons of experience, a reverence for the characteristic ri()'hts of b f1~eernen: and a regard for the public harmony, will suffi· CICHLly lllfluence your deliberations on tho question, how INAUGURAL AND FAREWELL ADDRESSES. 413 far the former can be more impregnably fortified, or the latter be safely and ad vantageou.·ly promoted. To the preceding observations I uavc one to add, which will be most properly addressed to the Ilouse of RepreRentatives. It concerns myself, and will, therefore, be as brief as possible. When I was first honored with a call into the service of my country, then on the eve of an ardu- 0118 struggle for its lilJerties, the light in which I contemplated my duty re~uircd that I s.hould rm.IOuncc over! pecuniary compensatiOn. From th1s resolutiOn I havo 111 no instanco departed ; and being still under the impres ·ions which produced it, I must decline, as inapplicable to myself, any share in the personal emoluments which may be indispensably included in a permanent provision for tho ex· ecutive department; and rnnst accordingly pray that the pecuniary estimates for the station in which I am placed, may, during my continuance in it, be limited to such actual expenditures as the public good may be thought to require. IIn.ving thus imparted io you my sentiments, as they bn.ve been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; buL not without resorti11g once more to the benign Parent of the human race in humble supplication, that, since he has been pleased to favor the Americtm people with opportunities for deliberating iu perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding, with unpamlleled unanimity, on a form of government for the security of their Union, and the advancement of their happiness, so his Divine blessing may be equn.lly conspicuous in tho enlarged views, the temperate consnl lations, and the wise measures, on which the sncces of this g-overnment must depend. G. 'VASIII.NGTON. April 30, 1789. |