George Washington’s Farewell Address
September 19, 1796
3The period for a new election of a Citizen, to Administer the Executive government of the United States, [1] being not far distant, and the time actually arrived, when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person, [2]who is to be cloathed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice,[3] that 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 is to be made.
4[4]I beg you, at the sametime, 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, [5]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.
5[6]The acceptance of, & 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.[7] 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.[8] 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;[9] but mature reflection on the then perplexed & critical posture of our Affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of persons entitled to my confidence, impelled me to abandon the idea.
6[10]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; & [11]am persuaded whatever partiality may be retained for my services, that in the present circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove my determination to retire.
7[12The impressions, with which, I first undertook the arduous trust, were explained on the proper occasion.[13] 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.[14] 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 strengthned the motives to diffidence of myself;[15] and every day the encreasing weight of years admonishes me more and more, that the shade of retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome.
[16]In relation to the still subsisting War in Europe, my Proclamation of the 22d of April 1793 is the index to my Plan. [17]Sanctioned by your approving voice and by that of Your Representatives in both Houses of Congress,[18] the spirit of that measure has continually governed me; uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me from it.
[19]After deliberate examination with the aid of the best lights I could obtain I was well satisfied that our Country, under all the circumstances of the case, had a right to take, and was bound in duty and interest, to take a Neutral position.[20] Having taken it, I determined, as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it, with moderation, perseverence & firmness.
[21]The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without any thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every Nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of Peace and amity towards other Nations.
[1] This a long way of explaining the historical events of the presidential election of 1796 that consisted between John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Pinckney. Washington stepped down and did not return for a third term and changed the history for us all. Whoever administers the executive branch is the leader of our country, which is the president.
[2]This part of the address refers to us as people, and us as a nation to select the person we fell the most comfortable with to be the leader of our country. This called an election and whoever gets the most votes from the people in our country will be our next president.
[3]What Washington means as he says “resolution I have formed” that since he is the first president of America he created a pattern that was probably the most vital point in American history. Also with him coming up with the two-term system was big as well. He also did not want to be among them because his time was up. This man was the true founding father!
[4]This part is explaining that in this country the people truly hold all power. That we should also put our minds to where we think carefully about Washington new system and produce an environment that will not cause disturbances. He put high emphasis on that so that the world could have order and continue to work hard.
[5]Washington had heavy impact on the America’s change of the as we know it today. What he was trying to explain was that he is thankful of all the love and respect he has received and how much support he has got on becoming president. Moreover, he is saying that having a defined leader and having support is helpful towards society.
[6]We as Americans have freedom! The people have the say so in almost every situation possible. When we as people chose to be our leader is our choice. We make the choice because we see the potential in one individual to fulfill our desire so that the country could get better as a whole. In this country, choices are everything. It falls on the desire of us “the people”.
[7]Washington is explaining that he wishes earlier in his time as president he wished he had reasons to do certain things. On the other hand, I believe as he was getting older and having a mindset that for once he could make a change, he began to think things over and provided change.
[8]This tells us that he was prepared to give us this election a long time before he actually gave it, That he thought long and hard about the moment of him giving the farewell address. It was of strong desire to do so said by him so that would mean he might have always planned for the two-term system and potentially stepping down from office. This was big because if that were not the case many people would think that presidency is a long-term deal.
[9]Adding on to his previous statement, in the process of him thinking of the Farewell Address, he wanted to put high emphasis on the mature level of it in a way that the citizens could see that their opinions matter. The feedback from the people gave him great confidence in office.
[10]Washington is celebrating how the people’s concerns no longer gives him the pursuit of desire of good duty and proper behavior. This allowed him to become very comfortable in office. He knew different citizens were going to have their opinions, so he was not going to stress making sure he did whatever to please everyone. You are either going to like it or not.
[11]He is explaining that he is convinced that whatever unfair liking he was receiving while in office must be contained within his services. Ultimately meaning that he did not want the dis approval from his people upon his decision to step down as president. Sure people were going to have their opinions but they never should go against a decision that changed America in a positive way. Although he wanted no dis approvals, that did not put shade on the fact that most people’s desire for him to stay was still high.
[12]Washington wanted to let everyone know that he knew what he had to do coming into office and he did it to the best of his ability. Some of the things he did may not have been right but it was not as though he always made the wrong decisions. He was like by many if not all. Washington had the most important presidency reign to me because he would go on to set the standard of what needs to go on in office.
[13]Everything he did or was trying to do was help our country as much as possible. Washington is letting us know that he has played a vital role in contributing to this country in many different ways. He gave the organization hard work of which an imperfect judgement was then capable.
[14]When dealing with things of a serious matter, like being the first president of America the comfort level has to be there and experience maybe key. He is explaining that without the conception from citizens or people within that hierarchy he had much experience in his own eyes, more than the in the eyes of others.
[15]Washington is expressing the fact that every day while in office, the weight upon his shoulders grew larger and larger. This began to bring to his attention that retirement was necessary. The case with people as a whole is nobody wants to feel like they have to do too much, so when they do it causes stress. I feel as though being the president of a country of this magnitude requires a very strong state of mind, but even that may not be enough. Washington was intelligent in that area and he knew many to come after him would struggle in trying to withstand the continuation of presidency. His two-term policy saved the value of presidency in my belief.
[16]Washington is stating that his survival of war in Europe was the basis of the plan for his proclamation announcement on April 22, 1793. Ant type of war is hard for anyone who takes part in it. By him explaining the trials and tribulations of the war, it gave Washington a great acknowledgment on what his plans were in his announcement.
[17]During this lustrous Proclamation announcement, it gave him great pleasure to hear the approving voices from the people on what he announcement had to offer. He wanted to stress the importance of the positive feedback from the people that were there.
[18]He is explaining that the overall spirt of the people’s approval was so great that it took his mind off those who tried to diminish it. Moreover, it continued to govern him and get him through the process of him having a strong mindset that the people were behind him.
[19]After his carefully planned examination with the help from his best lights, he was confident in belief of the status of the country. Moreover, I was in strong approval that were the country was at that time was a great starting point in the direction in which he intended for it to go.
[20]Washington wanted to let society know that everything should depend on him, good or bad. This was because as a leader of the country you make decisions to where everything you do the country should already be depended on you, especially if we saw fit to elect you as our first president.
[21]Washington held a neutral conduct that maybe was guessed based upon what was known. However, without anything more from his obligations of justice and humanity it imposed will on every other nation outside of America. Moreover, with the conduct of freedom to act, to maintain the untouched peace and friendship of other Nations.
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