华盛顿《告别词》Word文档下载推荐.docx

华盛顿《告别词》Word文档下载推荐.docx

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butamsupportedbyafullconvictionthatthestepiscompatiblewithboth. 

Theacceptanceof,&

continuancehithertoin,theOfficetowhichyourSuffrageshavetwicecalledme,havebeenauniformsacrificeofinclinationtotheopinionofduty,andtoadeferenceforwhatappearedtobeyourdesire.Iconstantlyhoped,thatitwouldhavebeenmuchearlierinmypower,consistentlywithmotives,whichIwasnotatlibertytodisregard,toreturntothatretirement,fromwhichIhadbeenreluctantlydrawn.Thestrengthofmyinclinationtodothis,previoustothelastElection,hadevenledtothepreparationofanaddresstodeclareittoyou;

butmaturereflectiononthethenperplexed&

criticalpostureofourAffairswithforeignnations,andtheunanimousadviceofpersonsentitledtomyconfidence,impelledmetoabandontheidea. 

Irejoice,thatthestateofyourconcerns,externalaswellasinternal,nolongerrendersthepursuitofinclinationincompatiblewiththesentimentofduty,orpropriety;

&

ampersuadedwhateverpartialitymayberetainedformyservices,thatinthepresentcircumstancesofourcountry,youwillnotdisapprovemydeterminationtoretire. 

Theimpressions,withwhich,Ifirstundertookthearduoustrust,wereexplainedontheproperoccasion.Inthedischargeofthistrust,Iwillonlysay,thatIhave,withgoodintentions,contributedtowardstheOrganizationandAdministrationofthegovernment,thebestexertionsofwhichaveryfalliblejudgmentwascapable.Notunconscious,intheoutset,oftheinferiorityofmyqualifications,experienceinmyowneyes,perhapsstillmoreintheeyesofothers,hasstrengthnedthemotivestodiffidenceofmyself;

andeverydaytheencreasingweightofyearsadmonishesmemoreandmore,thattheshadeofretirementisasnecessarytomeasitwillbewelcome.Satisfiedthatifanycircumstanceshavegivenpeculiarvaluetomyservices,theyweretemporary,Ihavetheconsolationtobelieve,thatwhilechoiceandprudenceinvitemetoquitthepoliticalscene,patriotizmdoesnotforbidit. 

Inlookingforwardtothemoment,whichisintendedtoterminatethecareerofmypubliclife,myfeelingsdonotpermitmetosuspendthedeepacknowledgmentofthatdebtofgratitudewchIowetomybelovedcountry,forthemanyhonorsithasconferreduponme;

stillmoreforthestedfastconfidencewithwhichithassupportedme;

andfortheopportunitiesIhavethenceenjoyedofmanifestingmyinviolableattachment,byservicesfaithful&

persevering,thoughinusefulnessunequaltomyzeal.Ifbenefitshaveresultedtoourcountryfromtheseservices,letitalwaysberememberedtoyourpraise,andasaninstructiveexampleinourannals,that,undercircumstancesinwhichthePassionsagitatedineverydirectionwereliabletomislead,amidstappearancessometimesdubious,viscissitudesoffortuneoftendiscouraging,insituationsinwhichnotunfrequentlywantofSuccesshascountenancedthespiritofcriticism,theconstancyofyoursupportwastheessentialpropoftheefforts,andaguaranteeoftheplansbywhichtheywereeffected.Profoundlypenetratedwiththisidea,Ishallcarryitwithmetomygrave,asastrongincitementtounceasingvowsthatHeavenmaycontinuetoyouthechoicesttokensofitsbeneficence--thatyourUnion&

brotherlyaffectionmaybeperpetual--thatthefreeconstitution,whichistheworkofyourhands,maybesacredlymaintained--thatitsAdministrationineverydepartmentmaybestampedwithwisdomandVirtue--that,infine,thehappinessofthepeopleoftheseStates,undertheauspicesofliberty,maybemadecomplete,bysocarefulapreservationandsoprudentauseofthisblessingaswillacquiretothemthegloryofrecommendingittotheapplause,theaffection--andadoptionofeverynationwhichisyetastrangertoit. 

Here,perhaps,Ioughttostop.Butasolicitudeforyourwelfare,whichcannotendbutwithmylife,andtheapprehensionofdanger,naturaltothatsolicitude,urgemeonanoccasionlikethepresent,tooffertoyoursolemncontemplation,andtorecommendtoyourfrequentreview,somesentiments;

whicharetheresultofmuchreflection,ofnoinconsiderableobservation,andwhichappeartomeallimportanttothepermanencyofyourfelicityasaPeople.Thesewillbeofferedtoyouwiththemorefreedomasyoucanonlyseeinthemthedisinterestedwarningsofapartingfriend,whocanpossiblyhavenopersonalmotivetobiasshiscounsel.NorcanIforget,asanencouragementtoit,yourendulgentreceptionofmysentimentsonaformerandnotdissimilaroccasion. 

Interwovenasistheloveoflibertywitheveryligamentofyourhearts,norecommendationofmineisnecessarytofortifyorconfirmtheAttachment. 

TheUnityofGovernmentwhichconstitutesyouonepeopleisalsonowdeartoyou.Itisjustlyso;

foritisamainPillarintheEdificeofyourrealindependence,thesupportofyourtranquilityathome;

yourpeaceabroad;

ofyoursafety;

ofyourprosperity;

ofthatveryLibertywhichyousohighlyprize.Butasitiseasytoforesee,thatfromdifferentcauses&

fromdifferentquarters,muchpainswillbetaken,manyartificesemployed,toweakeninyourmindstheconvictionofthistruth;

asthisisthepointinyourpoliticalfortressagainstwhichthebatteriesofinternal&

externalenemieswillbemostconstantlyandactively（thoughoftencovertly&

insidiously）directed,itisofinfinitemoment,thatyoushouldproperlyestimatetheimmensevalueofyournationalUniontoyourcollective&

individualhappiness;

thatyoushouldcherishacordial,habitual&

immoveableattachmenttoit;

accustomingyourselvestothinkandspeakofitasofthePalladiumofyourpoliticalsafetyandprosperity;

watchingforitspreservationwithjealousanxiety;

discountenancingwhatevermaysuggestevenasuspicionthatitcaninanyeventbeabandoned,andindignantlyfrowninguponthefirstdawningofeveryattempttoalienateanyportionofourCountryfromtherest,ortoenfeeblethesacredtieswhichnowlinktogetherthevariousparts. 

Forthisyouhaveeveryinducementofsympathyandinterest.Citizensbybirthorchoice,ofacommoncountry,thatcountryhasarighttoconcentrateyouraffections.ThenameofAmerican,whichbelongstoyou,inyournationalcapacity,mustalwaysexaltthejustprideofPatriotism,morethananyappellationderivedfromlocaldiscriminations.Withslightshadesofdifference,youhavethesameReligeon,Manners,Habits&

politicalPrinciples.Youhaveinacommoncausefought&

triumphedtogether--Theindependence&

libertyyoupossessaretheworkofjointcouncils,andjointefforts--ofcommondangers,sufferingsandsuccesses. 

Buttheseconsiderations,howeverpowerfullytheyaddressthemselvestoyoursensibilityaregreatlyoutweighedbythosewhichapplymoreimmediatelytoyourInterest.Hereeveryportionofourcountryfindsthemostcommandingmotivesforcarefullyguarding&

preservingtheUnionofthewhole. 

TheNorth,inanunrestrainedintercoursewiththeSouth,protectedbytheequalLawsofacommongovernment,findsintheproductionsofthelatter,greatadditionalresourcesofMaratime&

commercialenterpriseand--preciousmaterialsofmanufacturingindustry.TheSouthinthesameIntercourse,benefittingbytheAgencyoftheNorth,seesitsagriculturegrow&

itscommerceexpand.TurningpartlyintoitsownchannelstheseamenoftheNorth,itfindsitsparticularnavigationenvigorated;

andwhileitcontributes,indifferentways,tonourish&

increasethegeneralmassoftheNationalnavigation,itlooksforwardtotheprotectionofaMaratimestrength,towhichitselfisunequallyadapted.TheEast,inalikeintercoursewiththeWest,alreadyfinds,andintheprogressiveimprovementofinteriorcommunications,byland&

water,willmore&

morefindavaluableventforthecommoditieswhichitbringsfromabroad,ormanufacturesathome.TheWestderivesfromtheEastsuppliesrequisitetoitsgrowth&

comfort--andwhatisperhapsofstillgreaterconsequence,itmustofnecessityowetheSecureenjoymentofindispensableoutletsforitsownproductionstotheweight,influence,andthefuturemaritimestrengthoftheAtlanticsideoftheUnion,directedbyanindissolublecommunityofInterestasoneNation.AnyothertenurebywhichtheWestcanholdthisessentialadvantage,whetherderivedfromitsownseperatestrength,orfromanapostate&

unnaturalconnectionwithanyforeignPower,mustbeintrinsicallyprecarious. 

Whiletheneverypartofourcountrythusfeelsanimmediate&

particularInterestinUnion,allthepartscombinedcannotfailto