George Washington’s “Farewell Address” was first published on September 19, 1796. In this pioneering speech addressed to the PEOPLE of the United States, Washington lends both advice and warnings. As he “recommends your frequent review,” through a series of quotes, Hillsdale in D.C. now highlights some of our “old and affectionate friend's” last words in office.
“I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, to decline being considered among the number of those, out of whom a choice [to Administer the Executive government of the United States] is to be made...I have the consolation to believe, that while choice and prudence invite me to quit the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it.”
“The name of AMERICAN, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same Religion, Manners, Habits, and political Principles.”
“In this sense it is, that your Union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other.”
“This government, the offspring of our own choice...has a just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for its authority, compliance with its Laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true Liberty.”
“All obstructions to the execution of the Laws...serve to organize faction; to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put in the place of the delegated will of the Nation, the will of a party; often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the Community...[C]unning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the Power of the People, and to usurp for themselves the reins of Government; destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”
“The spirit [of Party] is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human Mind...Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless out not to be entirely out of sight) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of Party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise People to discourage and restrain it.”
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports...Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion...[R]eason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
“Promote then as an object of primary important, Institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
“Avoid likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expence, but by vigorous exertions in time of Peace to discharge the Debts which unavoidable wars have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves out to bear. The execution of these maxims belongs to your Representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion should cooperate.”
“Observe good faith and justice twds. all Nations...Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest...leads also to concessions to the favorite Nation of privileges denied to others...and it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite Nation) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country...gilding with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation...Real Patriots, who may resist the intriegues of the favourite, are liable to become suspected and odious.”
“In offering to you, my Countrymen these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression, I could wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions or prevent our Nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the Destiny of Nations. But if I may even flatter myself, that they may be productive of some partial benefit...this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare.”
“I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow Citizens, the benign influence of good Laws under a free Government, the ever-favourite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labours and dangers.”
Read Dr. Matthew Spalding’s commentary on Washington’s great speeches.
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