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Show 436 !~AU GURAL AND F'ARE\VELL ADDRESSES. state: as far as sentiments ami intentions such as these can aid tho fulfilment of my duty, they will be a resource which cannot fail me. It is my good fortune, moreover, to have the path in which I am to tread, lighted by examples of illustriou.' services, successfully rendered in the most trying difficultie., by those who have marched before mo. Of those of my immediate predecessor, it might least become me hero to speak- 1 may, howcvcJ·, be pardoned for not supprcssi ng the Rympathy with which my heart is full, in the rich reward he enjoys in tho benedictions of a beloved country, gratefully bestowed. for exalted talents, zcalou.ly devoted through a long career to the advancement of its highc t interest and happine s. But the source to which I look for the aids which alone can supply my deficiencies, is in the well-tried intelligence and virtue of my fellow-citizens, and in the councils of tho c representing them in the other departments associnted in the care of the national interests. In th se my conficlcncc win, under every difliculty, be best placed; next to that wbich '"'c have all been encouraged to feel in the guardianship and guidance of that Almighty DeinO', who. e power rcgnlatcs the de. tiny of nations, whose hie sings have been so conspicuously dispensed to this rising RcpnLlic, and to whom we arc bound to address our devout gratitude for the past, as well as our fervent supplications and best hopes for the future. FAREWELL ADDRESS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT, TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. September 11, 1796. Fn"rnds and Fellow-dlizens: The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States beinrr not b f1u· distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts mnst be employed in designating the person who is to be INAUGUHAL AND F AHE\V.LLL ADDRESSES. 437 c1othc<1 with that hnportant trust., it nppc~1rs to me proper, especially as iL mn.y condnec to u more distinct cxpre. sioo of the public voic·c, that I should now appri. c you of tho resoluti on I have form d, to de ·line b ing considered among the number or tho e out of whom a choice is to be made. I beg you nt the. amc time, to do me the justice to be as ured that this rcsolntion has not been tn.k cn withonL it strict regard to all the considcmtions appertaining to the relation which hinds a dutiful citiz.en to his country; and thnt, in withdrawing 1hc tender of srrvice which silence, in my situation, might imply, I nm inOucncc<l hy no diminntion of zeal for your futuro in ter •st., no dcfieicney of grateful respect for your past kindnc. H, but am supported by a ful1 conviction that the .·tcp is compatible with IJoth. 'rhe acceptance of, and contin uance hitherto in, the offieo to which your sufl'J·agcs have twice called me, have been a. uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty, nnd to a deference for what appeared to be your desire. I coHstantly hoped that it would have been much earlier in my power, con. istently with motives which I was notaL libct'Ly to disregard, to return to that retirement from which I have been reluct!l.nt1y drawn. The strength of my inclination to do this, previous to the last election, had even Jed to the preparation of an address to declare it to you ; but mature reflection on the then perplexed and critical posture of our n.fl'airs with foreign tHttions, and the unanimous advice of persons en Li Lied to my con fidcn cc, im polled me to abandon the idea. I rejoice that the state of yonr concerns, external as well n.s internal, no longer renders tliC pursuit of incli11ation incompatible with tho f?cntimcnt of duLy or propriety; and o.m persuaded, whatever partiality may be retained for my services that in the })rcscnt circumstances of our country, I I you will not disapprove my determination to retire. The impressions with which I first undertook the arduous |
