XIV. Cherish good faith, justice, and peace, with other nations: 1. Because religion and morality dictate it.

2. Because policy dictates it.

If these could exist, a nation invariably honest and faithful, the benefits would be immense.

But avoid national antipathies or national attachments.

Display the evils; fertile source of wars-instrument of ambitious rulers.

XV. Republics peculiarly exposed to foreign intrigue, those sentiments lay them open to it.

XVI. The great rule of our foreign politics ought to be to have as little political connection as possible with foreign nations.

convenient rules that com

Cultivating commerce with all by gentle and Establishing temporary and natural means, diffusing and diversifying it, but forcing nothing-and cherish the sentiment of independence, taking pride in the appellation of American.

merce may be placed on a sta

ble footing; merchants know

their commerce; how to sp

port them, not seeking favors.

XVII. Our separation from Europe renders standing alliances inexpedient-subjecting our peace and interest to the primary and complicated relations of European interests.

Keeping constantly in view to place ourselves upon a respectable defensive, and if forced into controversy, trusting to connections of the occasion.

XVIII. Our attitude imposing and rendering this policy safe. But this must be with the exception of existing engagements, to be preserved but not extended.

XIX. It is not expected that these admonitions can control the course of the human passions, but if they only moderate them in some instances, and now and then excite the reflections of virtuous men heated by party spirit, my endeavor is rewarded.

XX. How far, in the administration of my present office my conduct has conformed to these principles, the public records must witness. My conscience assures me that I believed myself to be guided by them.

XXI. Particularly in relation to the present war, the proclamation of the 22d of April, 1793, is the key to my plan.

Touch sentiments with regard to

Approved by your voice and that of your representconduct of bel- atives in Congress, the spirit of that measure has conligerent powers. tinually guided me, uninfluenced by, and regardless of, France may es the complaints and attempts of any of the powers at war or their partisans to change them.

A

wish that

tablish good government.

I thought our country had a right under all the cirTime everything. cumstances to take this ground, and I was resolved as far as depended on me to maintain it firmly.

XXII. However, in reviewing the course of my administration, I may be unconscious of intentional errors, I am too sensible of my own deficiencies not to believe that I may have fallen into many. I deprecate the evils to which they may tend, and pray Heaven to avert or mitigate and abridge them. I carry with me, nevertheless, the hope that my motives will continue to be viewed with indulgence, that after forty-five years of my life devoted to public service, with a good zeal and upright views, the faults of deficient abilities will be consigned to oblivion, and myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.

XXIII. Neither interest nor ambition has been my impelling motive. I never abused the power confided to me--I have not bettered my fortune, retiring with it, no otherwise improved than by the influence on property of the common blessings of my country :— I retire with undefiled hands and an uncorrupted heart, and with ardent vows for the welfare of that country, which has been the native soil of myself and my ancestors for four generations.

No. III.

HAMILTON'S ORIGINAL DRAUGHT OF AN ADDRESS.*

Hamilton's Works, Vol. VII, p. 575.

[MEMORANDUM.-The clauses in this reprint which are inclosed by brackets, with an exception of four words in the 26th paragraph, that are bracketed in Hamilton's works, show the origin of the cancelled passages in Washington's autograph copy of the Farewell Address. The original of this draught is indorsed by Hamilton, 'Copy of the original draught considerably amended."]

66

August, 1796.

The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States, being not very distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust for another term, it appears to me proper, and 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, nevertheless,† to be assured that the resolution which I announce, has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations attached to the relation which, as a dutiful citizen, I bears to my country, and that in withdrawing the tender of my service, which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for its future interest, nor by any deficiency

This is a copy of the original draught in Hamilton's autograph. The notes embrace the final alterations in this draught, but there are many previous erasures which can only be given in a fac-simile.-ED.

at the same time.

$ bears.

connected with-inseparable from-incident to. his.

of grateful respect for its past kindness, but by a full conviction that such a step is compatible with both.

The acceptance of, and the continuance hitherto in the office to which your suffrages have twice called me, has been a uniform sacrifice of private inclination to* the opinion of public duty coinciding with what appeared to be your wishes. I had 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 those† motives had reluctantly drawn me.

The strength of my desire to withdraw previous to the last election, had even led to the preparation of an address to declare it to you, but deliberate‡ reflection on the very critical and perplexed posture of our affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of mens every way entitled to my confidence, obliged|| me to abandon the idea.

I rejoice that the state of your national concerns, external as well as internal, no longer renders the pursuit of my inclination incompatible with the sentiment of duty or propriety, and¶ that whatever partiality any portion of you may still retain for my services, they, under the existing circumstances of our country, will not disapprove the** resolution†† I have formed.

The impressions under which I first accepted the arduous trust of Chief Magistrate of the United States, were explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of this trust, I can only say that I have, with pure intentions, contributed towards the organization and administration of the government the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable; that conscious at‡‡ the outset of the inferiority of my qualifications for the station, experience in my own eyes, and perhaps still more in those of others, has not dimi

nished in me the diffidence of myself-and every day the increasing weight of years admonishes me more and more that the shade of retirement is as necessary* as it will be welcome to me. Satisfied that if any circumstances have given a peculiar value to my services, they were temporary, I have the consolation to believe, that while inclination and prudence urge me to recede from the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it. [May I also have that of knowing in my retreat, that the involuntary errors which I have probably committed, have been the causes of no serious or lasting mischief to my country, and thus be spared the anguish of regrets which would disturb the repose of my retreat and embitter the remnant of my life! I may then expect to realize, without alloy, the pure enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, of the benign influence of good laws under a free government; the ultimate object of all my wishes, and to which I look as the happy reward‡ of our mutual labors and dangers.]

In looking forward to the moment which is to terminate the career of my public life, my sensations do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgments required by that debt of gratitude, which I owe to my beloved country, for the many honors it has conferred upon me, still more for the distinguished and steadfast confidence it has reposed in me, and for the opportunities it has thus afforded me§ of manifesting my inviolable attachment, by services faithful and persevering-however the inadequateness of my faculties may have ill-seconded my|| zeal. If benefits have resulted to you, my fellow-citizens, from these services, let it always be remembered to your praise, and as an instructive example in our annals, that the constancy of your support amidst appearances dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging, and in situations in which, not unfre

* to me.

† retirement.

+ I hope.

ŞI have thence enjoyed.

I have rendered their efforts unequal to my-disproportional.

¶ under circumstances in which the passions, agitated in every direction, were liable

to the greatest fluctuations.