George Washington's Farewell Address Notes

Introduction

In September 1796, George Washington announced his decision not to seek a third term, worn out by the burdens of the presidency and attacks from political foes.
With assistance from Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, he composed his political testament to the nation in a “Farewell Address.”
The address was designed to inspire and guide future generations, defend Washington’s administration record, and embody a classic statement of Federalist doctrine.
Washington’s main concern was the safety of the eight-year-old Constitution.
He believed the stability of the Republic was threatened by geographical sectionalism, political factionalism, and interference by foreign powers in domestic affairs.
He urged Americans to prioritize common national interests over sectional jealousies.
Washington feared that political parties carried the seeds of the nation’s destruction through petty factionalism, as he wrote before political parties became accepted.
Washington cautioned against permanent alliances with other countries, as they would inevitably undermine America’s national interest.
The Farewell Address was not publicly delivered but first appeared on September 19, 1796, in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser.
In January 1862, a thousand citizens of Philadelphia petitioned Congress to commemorate George Washington’s birth by reading the Farewell Address aloud in Congress.
Both houses agreed, and Secretary of the Senate John W. Forney read the address on February 22, 1862.
The practice of reading the Farewell Address became a tradition, with the Senate observing Washington’s birthday since 1893 by selecting a member to read the address.
The assignment alternates between members of each political party.

On Declining a Third Term

Washington announces his resolution to decline being considered for another term as president.
He assures that this decision was made with strict regard for the relationship between a dutiful citizen and his country.
His decision is not due to a lack of zeal for the country's future or respect for past kindness but rather a conviction that it is compatible with both duty and propriety.
He states his acceptance and continuance in office were a sacrifice of inclination to duty and deference to the people's desire.
He had hoped to retire earlier but was compelled to abandon the idea due to the perplexed and critical posture of affairs with foreign nations and the unanimous advice of people he trusted.
He is now persuaded that the state of the country's concerns no longer makes the pursuit of his inclination incompatible with duty or propriety.

Reflections on Public Service

Washington reflects on his undertaking of the "arduous trust" of the presidency, stating he contributed the best exertions of which a fallible judgment was capable with good intentions.
He acknowledges his initial lack of qualifications and notes that experience has strengthened his diffidence.
The increasing weight of years reminds him of the necessity and welcoming nature of retirement.
He believes that any value in his services was temporary and finds consolation in the fact that patriotism does not forbid his departure from the political scene.

Gratitude and Hopes for the Nation

Washington expresses deep gratitude to his country for the honors conferred upon him, the steadfast confidence with which he was supported, and the opportunities to manifest his attachment through faithful services.
He acknowledges the constancy of their support as essential amidst passions, dubious appearances, discouraging vicissitudes, and criticism.
He carries the idea of the support with him to his grave as an incitement to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to bestow beneficence upon the nation.
His hopes include perpetual union and brotherly affection, the sacred maintenance of the free constitution, wise and virtuous administration, and the complete happiness of the people under liberty.
He hopes the preservation and prudent use of liberty will recommend it to other nations.

Sentiments on National Felicity and Unity

Washington expresses his concern for the welfare of the nation and offers sentiments resulting from reflection and observation to ensure its permanency and felicity.
He emphasizes the importance of the unity of government, considering it a main pillar of independence, tranquility, peace, safety, prosperity, and liberty.
He foresees efforts to weaken the conviction of this truth and warns to estimate the immense value of national union to collective and individual happiness.
He encourages a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it, viewing it as the palladium of political safety and prosperity.
Citizens should watch for its preservation with jealous anxiety and frown upon attempts to alienate any portion of the country or weaken the ties that link it together.
He emphasizes common national identity is more important than local distinctions, citing shared religion, manners, habits, and political principles.
He reminds them of their joint efforts, common dangers, sufferings, and successes in achieving independence and liberty.

Interdependence of Different Regions

The North benefits from the South's resources for maritime and commercial enterprise and manufacturing.
The South benefits from the North's agency in growing agriculture and expanding commerce.
The East finds a valuable outlet for commodities in the West through improved interior communications.
The West derives supplies from the East and relies on the Atlantic side of the Union for indispensable outlets for its own productions.
The Union provides greater strength, resources, and security from external danger to all parts of the country.
He emphasized an exemption from broils and wars between themselves, which would lead to overgrown military establishments, hostile to republican liberty.

The Importance of Union and Experience

He claims that the Union should be considered a main prop of liberty, and love for one should endear the preservation of the other.
He encourages to resolve doubts about whether a common government can embrace such a large sphere by letting experience solve it.
The only thing to do is listen to mere speculation, and trusts that the auxiliary agency of government for respective subdivisions will afford a happy problem.
It is worth the experiment and there should be distrust in those that weaken its bonds.

Dangers of Geographical Divisions and Party Influence

Washington expresses concern about characterization of parties by geographical discriminations as it may cause a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views.
He warns against misrepresentation of opinions and aims of other districts, which can lead to jealousies and heart burnings, alienating those who should be bound by affection.
He references the treaty with Spain as a decisive proof against suspicions of unfriendly policy in the government and Atlantic states regarding the Mississippi.
He encourages reliance on the Union for the preservation of advantages and to be deaf to advisers who would sever them from their brethren.

Necessity of an Effective Government and Constitution

To have an effective and permanent Union, a government for the whole is indispensable.
No alliances can be an adequate substitute and must experience infractions and interruptions.
He highlights the adoption of the Constitution as an improvement for a more intimate Union and management of common concerns.
The government, offspring of their own choice, should receive confidence and support.
Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, and acquiescence in its measures are duties of liberty.
The right of the people to make and alter constitutions is fundamental, but the existing Constitution is obligatory until changed.
The duty of every individual to obey the established government is presupposed.

Opposition to Laws and Spirit of Innovation

All obstructions to the execution of laws and combinations to control constituted authorities are destructive and of fatal tendency.
They serve to organize faction and put the will of a party over that of the nation.
Combinations and associations can become potent engines by which cunning men subvert the power of the people and usurp government.
He says to resist the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts and one method is to effect alterations to impair the energy of the system.
Time and habit are necessary to fix the true character of governments, and experience is the surest standard.
Facility in changes exposes to perpetual shifts based on hypotheses, and government for an extensive country must be vigorous.
Liberty will be more secure if power is properly distributed and adjusted.
Without that, it is a name where the government is too feeble to withstand faction.

The Baneful Effects of the Spirit of Party

Washington warns against the effects of the spirit of party, which is inseparable from our nature and exists in all governments.
In popular governments, it is seen in its greatest rankness and is their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of factions leads to despotism, as disorders incline people to seek security in the power of an individual.
The common mischiefs of party include distracted public councils, enfeebled administration, ill-founded jealousies, animosity, and fomenting riot and insurrection.
It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, subjecting the policy of one country to another.
He says that parties are useful checks but in elective governments it is a spirit not to be encourage because of constant danger of excess.
He urges to mitigate that and prevent it from bursting into flames.

Encroachment of Power and Constitutional Balance

It is important that administration confines themselves within respective constitutional spheres, or it creates a real despotism.
A just estimate of the love of power is sufficient to know the truth of the previous point.
Reciprocal checks in the exercise of power are necessary and has been evinced by experiments.
If the people think there is something wrong with the distributions, then change it in a constitutional manner.
"Let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed."
The precedent must overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit which the use can at any time yield.

Indispensability of Religion and Morality

Religion and morality are indispensable supports to political prosperity.
No man should claim patriotism while laboring to subvert these pillars of human happiness.
Both the politician and the pious man ought to respect and cherish them.
He asks where the security for property, reputation, and life would be if religious obligation deserted oaths in courts of justice.
Caution should be used when indulging the idea that morality can be maintained without religion.
Experience forbids expecting national morality without religious principle.
Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.

Importance of Knowledge, Public Credit, and Fiscal Responsibility

Promote institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, especially in governments that give force to public opinion.
Cherish public credit as a source of strength and security.
Use it sparingly, cultivate peace to avoid expenses.
Remember that timely disbursements to prepare for danger prevent greater disbursements to repel it.
Avoid accumulating debt by shunning occasions of expense and by vigorous exertions in peace to discharge debts from unavoidable wars.
Don't throw burdens onto posterity.
The execution of these maxims belongs to representatives, but public opinion must cooperate.
Remember that to pay debts, there must be revenue, and to have revenue, there must be taxes.
No taxes are convenient or pleasant, and the choice is always difficult.
There should be a candid construction of the government's conduct in making these choices.

Good Faith, Justice, and Avoiding National Antipathies

Observe good faith and justice towards all nations and cultivate peace and harmony.
This conduct is enjoined by religion and morality.
He says it will be worthy of the US to give to mankind the example of a people always guided by exalted justice and benevolence.
He asks if Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue.
Permanent antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded.
The nation which indulges in hatred or fondness is a slave to its animosity or affection.
Antipathy leads to insults and injuries, frequent collisions, and obstinate contests.
Passionate attachment leads to participation in quarrels and wars without justification.
It also leads to concessions to the favorite nation and gives citizens the ability to betray their own country.
Foreign Influence causes opportunity to tamper with domestic factions, mislead public opnion and such attachments doom the former.
Jealousy of a free people needs to be awake.
Excessive partiality for one nation and dislike of another cause biased views of danger and veil influence.
Real patriots are suspected, while tools and dupes surrender interests.

Commercial Relations and Avoiding Political Entanglements

The great rule of conduct for the US in foreign nations is to extend commercial relations and to have as little political connection as possible.
Existing engagements should be fulfilled with perfect good faith.
Europe has a set of primary interests that are foreign to US concerns, making it unwise to become implicated in its politics or enmities.
The detached situation of the US invites and enables it to pursue a different course.
Remaining one people, the US can avoid injury from external annoyance, command respect for its neutrality, avoid provocation from belligerent nations, and choose peace or war based on interest and justice.
Why entangle peace and prosperity in European ambition?
He claims it is the true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances.
Honesty is always the best policy.
Take care to keep themselves in a defensive posture, so they can safely trust in temporary alliances.
Harmony and liberal intercourse with all nations are recommended.
It is folly to look for disinterested favors from another nation.
Acceptance places in the condition of having given equivalents for favors and also being reproached with ungratefulness.

Conclusion: Counsel and Justification of Actions

He knows that his message may not be received, but it gives him solace if it has partial benefit.
Public records and other evidences of his conduct reveal his performance of official duties.
His conscience says that he has at least tried to be guided by the principles.
His proclamation of April 22nd, 1793 is the index to his plan and was continuously governed by it through the voice of the people through Congress.
After deliberate examination, he was satisfied that the country had a right to take a neutral position in addition to being bound in duty and interest to take that position.
Having taken the neutral position, he had determined to maintain it with moderation, perseverance, and firmness.
The right to hold this conduct has been virtually admitted by all belligerent powers.
The duty of holding a neutral conduct can be inferred from justice and humanity to maintain peace with other nations.
The biggest drive for observing the conduct was to gain time to let its institutions and get progress to give it command of its own fortunes.
In reviewing the incidents of the administration, its probable that there have been some errors.
He fervently beseeches the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend.
He views that he will view the country through those lens and that because he dedicated his life, that the faults of incompetent abilities will be forgotten.
United States, 19th September 1796