PRESIDENT's ADDRESS.
To the PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES.
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 in designating the person,
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, 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.
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
certainly 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
for my 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 dissidence 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 honours it has conferred upon me; still more for the stedfast
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, amidst
appearances
sometimes dubious,--vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging,--in
situations in
which not unfrequently want of success has countenanced the spirit
of criticism--
|
|