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ADDRESSES.

TO THE MAYOR, CORPORATION, AND CITIZENS OF

GENTLEMEN,

ALEXANDRIA.*

APRIL 16TH, 1789.

Although I ought not to conceal, yet I cannot describe, the painful emotions which I felt in being called upon to determine whether I would accept or refuse the Presidency of the United States.

The unanimity of the choice, the opinion of my friends, communicated from different parts of Europe as well as of America, the apparent wish of those, who were not altogether satisfied with the constitution in its present form, and an ardent desire on my own part to be instrumental in conciliating the good will of my countrymen towards each other, have induced an acceptance.

Those, who have known me best, (and you, my fellow-citizens, are from your situation in that number,) know better than any others, that my love of retirement is so great, that no earthly consideration, short of a conviction of duty, could have prevailed upon me to depart from my resolution, never more to take any share in transactions of a public nature; for, at

* It will be observed, that all the following Addresses, except the FAREWELL ADDRESS, are Answers to such as were presented to him by various public bodies.

VOL. XII.

18

L*

my age, and in my circumstances, what possible advantages could I propose to myself from embarking again on the tempestuous and uncertain ocean of public life?

I do not feel myself under the necessity of making public declarations, in order to convince you, Gentlemen, of my attachment to yourselves, and regard for your interests. The whole tenor of my life has been open to your inspection; and my past actions, rather than my present declarations, must be the pledge of my future conduct.

In the mean time, I thank you most sincerely for the expressions of kindness contained in your valedictory address. It is true, just after having bade adieu. to my domestic connexions, this tender proof of your friendship is but too well calculated still farther to awaken my sensibility, and increase my regret at parting from the enjoyments of private life.

All that now remains for me is to commit myself and you to the protection of that beneficent Being, who, on a former occasion, has happily brought us together after a long and distressing separation. Perhaps the same gracious Providence will again indulge us with the same heartfelt felicity. But words, my fellow-citizens, fail me. Unutterable sensations must then be left to more expressive silence; while, from an aching heart, I bid you all, my affectionate friends and kind neighbours, farewell! *

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

The inhabitants of Alexandria were his neighbours and personal friends, who, in their Address to him, had expressed themselves with much warmth of feeling and attachment.

"Again," said they, “your country commands your care. Obedient to its wishes, unmindful of your ease, we see you again relinquishing the bliss of retirement; and this too at a period of life, when nature itself seems to authorize a preference of repose!

"Not to extol your glory as a soldier; not to pour forth our gratitude

TO THE CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE.

APRIL 17TH, 1789.

GENTLEMEN,

The tokens of regard and affection, which I have often received from the citizens of this town, were always acceptable, because I believed them always. sincere. Be pleased to receive my best acknowledgments for the renewal of them on the present occasion.

If the affectionate partiality of my fellow-citizens has prompted them to attribute greater effects to my conduct and character, than were justly due, I trust the indulgent sentiment on their part will not produce an overweening presumption on mine.

I cannot now, Gentlemen, resist the current of my feelings so much, as to withhold the communication of my ideas, respecting the actual situation and prospect of our national affairs. It appears to me, that little more than common sense and common honesty,

for past services; not to acknowledge the justice of the unexampled honor, which has been conferred upon you by the spontaneous and unanimous suffrages of three millions of freemen, in your election to the supreme magistracy; not to admire the patriotism, which directs your conduct, do your neighbours and friends now address you. Themes less splendid, but more endearing, impress our minds. The first and best of citizens must leave us; our aged must lose their ornament; our youth, their model; our agriculture, its improver; our commerce, its friend; our infant academy, its protector; our poor, their benefactor; and the interior navigation of the Potomac (an event replete with the most extensive utility, already, by your unremitted exertions, brought into partial use), its institutor and promoter.

"Farewell! Go, and make a grateful people happy, a people, who will be doubly grateful when they contemplate this recent sacrifice for their interest.

"To that Being, who maketh and unmaketh at his will, we commend you; and, after the accomplishment of the arduous business, to which you are called, may he restore to us again the best of men, and the most beloved fellow-citizen!"

in the transactions of the community at large, would be necessary to make us a great and happy nation; for, if the general government lately adopted shall be arranged and administered in such a manner, as to acquire the full confidence of the American people, I sincerely believe they will have greater advantages, from their natural, moral, and political circumstances, for public felicity, than any other people ever possessed.

In the contemplation of those advantages, now soon to be realized, I have reconciled myself to the sacrifice of my fondest wishes, so far as to enter again upon the stage of public life. I know the delicate nature of the duties incident to the part I am called to perform, and I feel my incompetence, without the singular assistance of Providence, to discharge them in a satisfactory manner; but, having undertaken the task from a sense of duty, no fear of encountering difficulties, and no dread of losing popularity, shall ever deter me from pursuing what I take to be the true interests of my country. Yet, after a consciousness of having been actuated by the purest motives alone, and after having made use of the most persevering endeavours in my power to advance the public weal, I shall consider it next to a miracle, if I may be so fortunate as to go out of office with a reputation as unsullied by the breath of obloquy, as that which I flatter myself I have hitherto maintained. In all contingencies you will remember, Gentlemen, when I was entering on the chief magistracy I told you, "that it would be no unprecedented thing, if the close of a life, mostly consumed in public cares, should be embittered by some ungrateful event;" but in the present instance, that circumstance would be accounted by me of little moment, provided, in the mean time,

I shall have been in the smallest degree instrumental in securing the liberties and promoting the happiness of the American people.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

TO THE DELAWARE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

GENTLEMEN,

APRIL, 1789.

I return you my sincere thanks for your congratulations and good wishes on my appointment to the Presidency of the United States.

Convinced that the happy effects, which may be derived from our government must depend, in a considerable degree, on the determination of the people to support the person intrusted with the administration, I shall rejoice to find that my acceptance has met with their approbation.

The promotion of domestic manufactures will, in my conception, be among the first consequences which may naturally be expected to flow from an energetic government. For myself, having an equal regard for the prosperity of the farming, trading, and manufacturing interests, I will only observe, that I cannot conceive the extension of the latter (so far as it may afford employment to a great number of hands, which would be otherwise in a manner idle,) can be detrimental to the former. On the contrary, the concurrence of virtuous individuals, and the combination of economical societies, to rely as much as possible on the resources of our own country, may be productive of great national advantages, by establishing the habits

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