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George Washington's Farewell Address: Key Themes and Principles

George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

Introduction and Expressions of Gratitude

  • Retirement from Public Life: George Washington announces his impending retirement from public service.

  • Deep Gratitude to the Nation: Expresses profound thankfulness for the honors bestowed upon him and the unwavering confidence with which the country supported his efforts.

  • Acknowledgment of Support: Attributes any national benefits from his services to the constancy of public support, which acted as an "essential prop" and "guarantee" amidst challenges like agitating passions, dubious circumstances, discouraging fortunes, and criticism.

  • Lasting Impression: This gratitude will accompany him to his grave, inspiring "unceasing vows" for continued divine beneficence upon the nation.

  • Plea for National Welfare: Offers observations and recommendations for the nation's permanent happiness, stemming from extensive reflection and observation, presented as the "disinterested warnings of a parting friend."

The Indispensable Value of Union

  • Love of Liberty: Acknowledges the inherent love of liberty within the citizens, needing no further recommendation from him.

  • Unity of Government as a Pillar: Emphasizes that the "Unity of Government," which forms one people, is a main pillar of:

    • Real independence.

    • Tranquility at home.

    • Peace abroad.

    • Safety and prosperity.

    • The very liberty highly prized.

  • Foresight of Opposition: Foresees that efforts and "artifices" will be employed to weaken the conviction of this truth, targeting union as the primary "point in your political fortress" for internal and external enemies.

  • Call to Cherish Union: Urges citizens to properly appreciate the "immense value" of national Union, fostering a "cordial, habitual and immoveable attachment" to it.

    • Thinking and speaking of it as the "Palladium of your political safety and prosperity."

    • Vigorously guarding against anything suggesting its abandonment.

    • Frowning upon attempts to alienate any part of the country or enfeeble connecting ties.

  • Shared Identity and Experience: Highlights inducements for Union based on sympathy and interest:

    • Common country, right to concentrate affections.

    • The name "American" exalts patriotism above local distinctions.

    • Shared religion, manners, habits, and political principles (with slight differences).

    • Joint struggles and triumphs in a common cause: independence and liberty are the work of "joint councils, and joint efforts; of common dangers, sufferings and successes."

  • Mutual Economic Benefits of Union: Demonstrates how different regions benefit from national unity:

    • North and South: Unrestrained intercourse allows the North to find resources for maritime/commercial enterprise and manufacturing materials in the South's productions. The South benefits from northern agency, expanding agriculture and commerce, invigorating its navigation, and securing protection from maritime strength to which it is unequally adapted.

    • East and West: The East finds a vital market for foreign and domestic goods in the West, enhanced by improved interior communications. The West receives supplies from the East and, crucially, secures outlets for its products through the combined "weight, influence, and the future Maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the Union." Any other arrangement for the West's advantage (separate strength or foreign connection) would be intrinsically precarious.

  • Collective Strength and Security: All parts combined gain "greater strength, greater resource, proportionably greater security from external danger, a less frequent interruption of their Peace by foreign Nations." Most importantly, Union provides "an exemption from those broils and Wars between themselves, which so frequently afflict neighbouring countries."

    • Prevents conflicts born from rivalries and exacerbated by foreign alliances and intrigues.

    • Avoids the necessity of "overgrown Military establishments" which are "inauspicious to liberty" and particularly hostile to Republican Liberty.

  • Union as a Prop of Liberty: Union is therefore considered a main prop of liberty, and love for one should deepen affection for the other.

  • Addressing Concerns about Size: Posits that experience, not mere speculation, should determine if a common government can encompass such a large sphere. Expresses hope for a proper organization, supported by auxiliary state governments.

  • Distrust of Union Weakener: Suggests distrusting the patriotism of anyone attempting to weaken the Union's bonds, as long as experience doesn't prove its impracticability.

Dangers of Geographical Partisan Divisions

  • Geographical Discriminations: Warns against characterizing parties by geographical distinctions (e.g., Northern, Southern, Atlantic, Western), as "designing men" can exploit these to create divisions based on supposed local interests.

  • Misrepresentation by Parties: Explains that parties aiming to gain influence in specific districts will misrepresent the opinions and aims of others, fostering "jealousies and heart burnings."

  • Western Country Example: Cites the recent Treaty with Spain (negotiated by the Executive, ratified by the Senate, and universally approved) as proof to the Western inhabitants that suspicions of the General Government and Atlantic States being unfriendly to their Mississippi interests were "unfounded."

    • Two treaties (with G. Britain and Spain) secured all their desires regarding foreign relations, confirming prosperity.

    • Urges the West to rely on the Union for these advantages and ignore advisors who would sever them from their brethren.

Principles of Constitutional Government and Obedience to Law

  • Necessity of a Government for the Whole: Emphasizes that a government for the whole is indispensable for the efficacy and permanency of the Union, as alliances between parts are inadequate and prone to infractions.

  • The Current Constitution: Praises the adopted Constitution as an improvement over previous attempts, better calculated for intimate Union and effective management of common concerns.

    • "Offspring of our own choice uninfluenced and unawed."

    • Adopted after "full investigation and mature deliberation."

    • "Completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment."

  • Duty of Citizens: Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, and acquiescence in its measures are duties based on the fundamental maxims of "true Liberty."

  • People's Right and Duty: While the people have the right to make and alter their Constitutions, the existing Constitution is "sacredly obligatory upon all" until changed by an explicit act of the whole people.

    • The right to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey it.

  • Dangers of Obstruction: "All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and Associations… with the real design to direct, controul counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the Constituted authorities" are destructive.

    • These actions organize faction, giving it artificial force, replacing the nation's will with that of a party (often a small minority).

    • This leads public administration to reflect "ill concerted and incongruous projects of faction" rather than consistent, wholesome plans.

  • Risk of Usurpation: Such combinations, even if sometimes serving popular ends, can become "potent engines" for "cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men" to subvert popular power and usurp government.

  • Preservation of Government and State: Requires:

    • Steadily discouraging irregular oppositions to acknowledged authority.

    • Resisting the "spirit of innovation" upon its principles, however specious the pretexts.

    • Warns that alterations in constitutional forms that impair the system's energy can undermine what cannot be directly overthrown.

  • Importance of Stability and Experience: In contemplating changes, remember:

    • Time and habit are necessary to fix government's character.

    • Experience is the surest standard to test the Constitution's real tendency.

    • Frequent changes based on "mere hypotheses and opinion" lead to perpetual flux.

  • Vigorous Government for Liberty: For an extensive country, a government with "as much vigour as is consistent with the perfect security of Liberty is indispensable." Liberty is merely a name if the government is too feeble to withstand faction, enforce laws, and protect individual rights.

Dangers of the Spirit of Party in General

  • Inherent in Human Nature: The "spirit of Party" is inseparable from human nature, rooted in strong passions.

  • Worst Enemy of Popular Governments: While present in all governments, it is most rampant and destructive in "popular form" (elective) governments.

  • Path to Despotism: The "alternate domination of one faction over another," fueled by revenge, perpetrates "horrid enormities" and is itself a "frightful despotism." This ultimately leads to a more formal and permanent despotism as men seek security in the "absolute power of an Individual."

  • Common Mischiefs of Party Spirit:

    • Distracts public councils and enfeebles administration.

    • Agitates the community with "ill founded jealousies and false alarms."

    • Kindles animosity, foments riot and insurrection.

    • "Opens the door to foreign influence and corruption" through party passions, subjecting one country's policy to another's.

  • Refutation of Party Utility: Acknowledges the opinion that parties are useful checks in free countries, keeping liberty alive. This may be true within limits or in monarchical governments, but in purely elective governments, it is not to be encouraged. Sufficient party spirit naturally exists for salutary purposes; the effort should be to "mitigate and assuage it" by public opinion.

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

  • Confining within Constitutional Spheres: Urges those in administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding encroachment of one department upon another.

  • Spirit of Encroachment: This tendency consolidates powers, leading to "a real despotism" regardless of government form.

  • Human Nature and Abuse of Power: Acknowledges humanity's "love of power, and proneness to abuse it."

  • Necessity of Reciprocal Checks: Historically validated necessity of dividing and distributing political power into different depositories, making each a "Guardian of the Public Weal against invasions by the others."

  • Correction vs. Usurpation: If constitutional power distribution is found wrong, it should be corrected by constitutional amendment, not by "usurpation." Usurpation, even if temporarily beneficial, is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed, its precedent yielding permanent evil.

Religion and Morality

  • Indispensable Supports: "Religion and morality are indispensable supports" for political prosperity.

  • Pillars of Human Happiness: Those who subvert these are not patriots, as they are the "firmest props of the duties of Men and citizens."

  • Security for Rights: Questions the security for property, reputation, and life if religious obligation deserts oaths in courts of justice.

  • Morality and Religion's Interdependence: Cautions against assuming morality can be maintained without religion, stating "National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

  • Necessary Spring of Popular Government: Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government, extending to all free governments.

Promotion of Knowledge, Public Credit, and Fiscal Responsibility

  • General Diffusion of Knowledge: Advocates for institutions promoting general knowledge, as an "enlightened public opinion" is essential where government gives force to public opinion.

  • Cherish Public Credit: "As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit."

  • Methods of Preserving Public Credit:

    • Use it sparingly, avoiding unnecessary expense by cultivating peace.

    • Timely disbursements to prepare for danger prevent greater future expenses.

    • Avoid accumulating debt by shunning expenses and by vigorous efforts during peace to discharge debts incurred during unavoidable wars.

    • Do not "ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burthen which we ourselves ought to bear."

  • Role of Representatives and Public Opinion: Execution of these maxims belongs to representatives, but public opinion must cooperate.

  • Acceptance of Taxation: To facilitate duty performance, citizens must bear in mind:

    • Debt payment requires Revenue.

    • Revenue requires taxes.

    • No taxes are perfectly convenient or pleasant.

    • The inherent difficulty of selecting tax objects (a "choice of difficulties") should motivate a candid construction of the government's conduct in taxation and a spirit of acquiescence in necessary revenue measures.

Foreign Policy Principles

  • Good Faith and Justice: "Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all." Enjoined by religion, morality, and good policy.

  • Magnanimous Example: Aspirations for the nation to provide mankind with an example of a people guided by "exalted justice and benevolence," believing such a plan would be repaid.

  • Exclusion of Antipathies and Attachments: Crucially, permanent, inveterate antipathies against specific nations and passionate attachments for others must be excluded.

    • A nation indulging in habitual hatred or fondness becomes a "slave" to its animosity or affection, leading it astray.

    • Antipathy (Hatred): Disposes nations to offer insult, injury, seize slight causes for umbrage, and be intractable. Leads to frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. Can impel governments to war against best policy calculations or make national animosity subservient to sinister projects, sacrificing peace and liberty.

    • Attachment (Fondness): Creates illusion of shared interest where none exists, infusing one nation with the enmities of another, leading to participation in quarrels without justification. Leads to concessions of privileges denied to others, injuring the conceding nation and exciting jealousy in others. Also enables "ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens" to betray their country's interests with popular approval.

  • Detached and Distant Situation: America's geographical position invites and enables a different course.

    • An efficient government will allow them to defy external injury, ensuring neutrality is respected.

    • They can choose peace or war guided by interest and justice.

  • Beware of Foreign Influence: The "insidious wiles of foreign influence"—especially those facilitated by attachments—are a "baneful foe of Republican Government." Jealousy must be constantly awake but also impartial, lest it becomes an instrument of the very influence to be avoided.

    • Excessive partiality or dislike causes people to see danger only on one side, veiling influence on the other.

    • Real patriots who resist such intrigues may become suspect, while foreign tools gain public confidence.

  • Great Rule of Conduct: Extend commercial relations with foreign nations while having "as little political connection as possible."

  • Existing Engagements: Stress that existing engagements must be fulfilled "with perfect good faith," holding that "honesty is always the best policy" in public and private affairs.

  • Europe's Separate Interests: Europe has primary interests distinct from America's, leading to frequent controversies foreign to American concerns. It is unwise to become implicated in European politics through "artificial ties."

  • Avoid Permanent Alliances: "'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world." This is predicated on being at liberty to do so, respecting existing fulfillment commitments.

  • Temporary Alliances for Emergencies: "Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectably defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies."

  • Impartial Commercial Policy: Advocated "harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations," but commercial policy should be equal and impartial.

    • Neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors.

    • Consulting the natural course of things, diffusing and diversifying commerce gently.

    • Establishing temporary, conventional rules of intercourse with willing powers to stabilize trade and define merchant rights.

  • No Disinterested Favors: "'Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from another." Expecting or calculating on real favors from nation to nation is an illusion; accepting such risks ceding independence and being accused of ingratitude.

Concluding Remarks

  • Modest Hope for Counsel: Washington dares not hope his counsels will make a strong or lasting impression, or entirely prevent the nation from following the "Destiny of Nations."

  • Hope for Partial Benefit: Hopes they may offer some "partial benefit," help moderate party fury, warn against foreign intrigue, and guard against "Impostures of pretended patriotism." This hope is a "full recompence" for his solicitude for the nation's welfare.