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Show 41 INAUGL RAL ANI> FAR.B~WBLL ADDRESSES. eight years, nnder the administration of a citizen, who, by a long course of great actions, rcgnlat cl by prudence, jus. ticc, temperance, ond fortitnd e, condu cting a people inspired wi th the some virtues, and animated wi th the same anlent patriotism and love of liberty, to ind ependence and peace, to increasing wealth and unexampled pro parity, has meri ted the grati tude of his fciiow-ciLizenR, commanded the highe. t prai ses of foreign nation s, and sec ured immortal glo ry with posterity. In that retirement which is his voluntary choice, may he 1ong live to enjoy the dclicions recoll ection of his services, the gratitude of mankind, the happy fruits of them to himself and the worlu, which arc daily incrcn sing, and that sp]endid prospect of the future fortunes of this country which is opening from year to year. IIis name may be still a rampart, and the knowledge that he lives a bulwark , against all open or secret enemies of his country's peace. This example has been recommended to the imitation of his successors, by both houses of Cong ress and by the voice of the legislatures and the people throughout the nation. On this subject it might become me better to be silent, or to speak with diffidence; but, as something may be expected, the occasion, I hope, will be admittcu as an apology, if I venture to say, That- If a preference, upon pri nci plc, of a free repnblicun government, formed upon long and serious rcOection, ufLer a diligent and impartial inquiry after truth ; if _an attachment to the Constitution of the United States, and a conscientious determination to support it, until it . hall be altered by the judgments and wi ·hcs of the peopl e, cxprrs.ed in the mode pre cribed in it; if a respectable atte ntion to the constitutions of the individual States, and a constant cn ntion nud delicnry towards the State governments ; if an cqnal Hnd impartial rcgnrd to the rights, interest, honor, nn t1 hnppine~ R, of nil the Stntc's in the Union, without. pn•frrencc or INAUGURAL AND FAREWELL ADDRESSES. 419 regard to a northern or southern, an eastern or western position, their various poli tical opinions on unessential points, or their personal attachm ·nts; if a love of vi rtuous men, of all parties and denomination, ; if a love of ~cicnce and letters, and a wi:h to patron ize every rational effort to encourage schools, collcgeR, universities, academi cs, atH.l every institution for propagat ing knowlec1ge, virtu e, and n'ligion, among all chLsRes of the people, not only for theil' benign influence on the lt a ppin c~s of life in all ils stages and classes, and of ocicLy in all it::; fo rms, Lut as the only means of preserving our Constitution from its natural enemies, the spirit of sophi try, the spirit of party, the spiri t of intrigue, the profli o-acy of corrup tion, and the pcstilcuce of foreign inOucncc, ·which is the angel of de 'truction to elective governments ; if a love of equal la\YS, of justice, and humani ty, in the int erior administration; if an iuc]illation to improve agri cul ture, commerce, and manufact ures for necessity, co nveni ence, and. defense; if a spirit of equi ty and hum::wily towards the alJo rigin nl nations of .America, and a di. po ition to mel iorate their condition, by incl ini11g them to lJc more fri endly to us, and our citizens to be more friendly to theru; if an infle xi ble determi nation to maintain peace and in violal)le fai th with all nations, aucl that system of neutral ity a.n cl impartia lity among the bell ige rent powers of Europe which has been adopted by this govern mont, and so solemnly sanctioned by Loth houses of Congress, and applauded. by the legisla tures of the Stales and the public opinion, until it shall Lc oth erwise ordained by Congrc ·s ; if a pe n~ o nal esteem for the French nation, formed in a re. irlence of seven years chi efly Hmo ng th em, and a , incere de sire to preserve the fri crHlHh ip \\' hieh has hccn so mn ch for the honor and interest of hoth nat ions; if, whi le the cort scious honor and integri ty of the people of ..Ameri ca, anu the intemal sentiment of th eir own power and energies, must be pre~erved, a1r efl rne~t en den vor to investigate every • |