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　　GEORGE WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS

　　FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS:

　　The period for a new election of a citizen, to administer the executive

　　government of the United States, being not far distant, and the time actually

　　arrived, when your thoughts must be employed designating the person, who is to

　　be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it

　　may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now

　　apprize you of the resolution I have formed, to decline being considered among

　　the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made.

　　I beg you at the same time to do me the justice to be assured that this

　　resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations

　　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, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no

　　deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a

　　full conviction 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 deference for what appeared to be your desire. I constantly hoped, that it would have been much earlier in my power,consistently with motives, which I was not at liberty to disregard, to return to that retirement, from which I 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 declare it

　　to you; but mature reflection on the then perplexed and critical posture of our

　　affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of persons entitled to my

　　confidence impelled me to abandon the idea.

　　I rejoice, that the state of your concerns, external as well as internal, no

　　longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible with the sentiment of

　　duty, or propriety; and am persuaded, whatever partiality may be retained formy

　　services, that, in the present circumstances of our country, you will not

　　disapprove my determination to retire.

　　The impressions, with which I first undertook the arduous trust, were

　　explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of this trust, I will only

　　say, that I have, with good intentions, contributed towards the organization and

　　administration of the government the best exertions of which a very fallible

　　judgment was capable. Not unconscious, in the outset, of the inferiority 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 as necessary to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied,that, if any

　　circumstances have given peculiar value to my services, they were temporary, I

　　have the consolation to believe, that, while choice and prudence invite me to

　　quit the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it.

　　In looking forward to the moment, which is intended to terminate the career

　　of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep

　　acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude, which I owe to my beloved country for

　　the many honors it has conferred upon me; still more for the steadfast

　　confidence with which it has supported me; and for the opportunities I have

　　thence enjoyed of manifesting my inviolable attachment, by services faithful and

　　persevering, 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 circumstances in

　　which the passions, agitated in every direction, were liable to mislead, a midst

　　appearances sometimes dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging, in

　　situations in which not unfrequently want of success has countenanced the spirit

　　of criticism, the constancy of your support was the essential prop of the

　　efforts, and a guarantee of the plans by which they were effected.Profoundly

　　penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong

　　incitement to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection maybe perpetual;

　　that the free constitution, which is the work of your hands, maybe sacredly

　　maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped with

　　wisdom and virtue; than, in fine, the happiness of the people of these States,

　　under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete, by so careful a

　　preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing, as will acquire to them the

　　glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every

　　nation, which is yet a stranger to it.

　　Here, perhaps I ought to stop. But a solicitude for your welfare which cannot

　　end but with my life, and the apprehension of danger, natural to that

　　solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the present, to offer to your solemn

　　contemplation, and to recommend to your frequent review, some sentiments which are the result of much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which

　　appear to me all-important to the permanency of your felicity as a people.These

　　will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you can only see in them the

　　disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can possibly have no personal

　　motive to bias his counsel. Nor can I forget, as an encouragement to it, your

　　indulgent reception of my sentiments on a former and not dissimilar

　　occasion.

　　The unity of Government, which constitutes you one people, is also now dearto

　　you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real

　　independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of

　　your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly

　　prize. But as it is easy to foresee, that, from different causes and from

　　different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken

　　in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your

　　political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies

　　will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and

　　insidiously)directed, it is of infinite moment, that you should properly

　　estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and

　　individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable

　　attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the

　　Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation

　　with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even as uspicion,

　　that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first

　　dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest,

　　or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.

　　For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by

　　birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate

　　your affections. 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. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together;

　　theIndependence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and

　　joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.

　　But these considerations, however powerfully they address themselves to your

　　sensibility, are greatly outweighed by those, which apply more immediately to

　　your interest. Here every portion of our country finds the most commanding

　　motives for carefully guarding and preserving the Union of the whole.