乔治华盛顿总统离职演说Word文档下载推荐.docx

乔治华盛顿总统离职演说Word文档下载推荐.docx

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butmaturereflectiononthethenperplexedandcriticalpostureofouraffairswithforeignnations，andtheunanimousadviceofpersonsentitledtomyconfidenceimpelledmetoabandontheidea.Irejoice，thatthestateofyourconcerns，externalaswellasinternal，nolongerrendersthepursuitofinclinationincompatiblewiththesentimentofduty，orpropriety；

andampersuaded，whateverpartialitymayberetainedformyservices，that，inthepresentcircumstancesofourcountry，youwillnotdisapprovemydeterminationtoretire.Theimpressions，withwhichIfirstundertookthearduoustrust，wereexplainedontheproperoccasion.Inthedischargeofthistrust，Iwillonlysay，thatIhave，withgoodintentions，contributedtowardstheorganizationandadministrationofthegovernmentthebestexertionsofwhichaveryfalliblejudgmentwascapable.Notunconscious，intheoutset，oftheinferiorityofmyqualifications，experienceinmyowneyes，perhapsstillmoreintheeyesofothers，hasstrengthenedthemotivestodiffidenceofmyself；

andeverydaytheincreasingweightofyearsadmonishesmemoreandmore，thattheshadeofretirementisasnecessarytomeasitwillbewelcome.Satisfied，that，ifanycircumstanceshavegivenpeculiarvaluetomyservices，theyweretemporary，Ihavetheconsolationtobelieve，that，whilechoiceandprudenceinvitemetoquitthepoliticalscene，patriotismdoesnotforbidit.Inlookingforwardtothemoment，whichisintendedtoterminatethecareerofmypubliclife，myfeelingsdonotpermitmetosuspendthedeepacknowledgmentofthatdebtofgratitude，whichIowetomybelovedcountryforthemanyhonorsithasconferreduponme；

stillmoreforthesteadfastconfidencewithwhichithassupportedme；

andfortheopportunitiesIhavethenceenjoyedofmanifestingmyinviolableattachment，byservicesfaithfulandpersevering，thoughinusefulnessunequaltomyzeal.Ifbenefitshaveresultedtoourcountryfromtheseservices，letitalwaysberememberedtoyourpraise，andasaninstructiveexampleinourannals，thatundercircumstancesinwhichthepassions，agitatedineverydirection，wereliabletomislead，amidstappearancessometimesdubious，vicissitudesoffortuneoftendiscouraging，insituationsinwhichnotunfrequentlywantofsuccesshascountenancedthespiritofcriticism，theconstancyofyoursupportwastheessentialpropoftheefforts，andaguaranteeoftheplansbywhichtheywereeffected.Profoundlypenetratedwiththisidea，Ishallcarryitwithmetomygrave，asastrongincitementtounceasingvowsthatHeavenmaycontinuetoyouthechoicesttokensofitsbeneficence；

thatyourunionandbrotherlyaffectionmaybeperpetual；

thatthefreeconstitution，whichistheworkofyourhands，maybesacredlymaintained；

thatitsadministrationineverydepartmentmaybestampedwithwisdomandvirtue；

than，infine，thehappinessofthepeopleoftheseStates，undertheauspicesofliberty，maybemadecomplete，bysocarefulapreservationandsoprudentauseofthisblessing，aswillacquiretothemthegloryofrecommendingittotheapplause，theaffection，andadoptionofeverynation，whichisyetastrangertoit.Here，perhapsIoughttostop.Butasolicitudeforyourwelfarewhichcannotendbutwithmylife，andtheapprehensionofdanger，naturaltothatsolicitude，urgeme，onanoccasionlikethepresent，tooffertoyoursolemncontemplation，andtorecommendtoyourfrequentreview，somesentimentswhicharetheresultofmuchreflection，ofnoinconsiderableobservation，andwhichappeartomeall-importanttothepermanencyofyourfelicityasapeople.Thesewillbeofferedtoyouwiththemorefreedom，asyoucanonlyseeinthemthedisinterestedwarningsofapartingfriend，whocanpossiblyhavenopersonalmotivetobiashiscounsel.NorcanIforget，asanencouragementtoit，yourindulgentreceptionofmysentimentsonaformerandnotdissimilaroccasion.Interwovenasistheloveoflibertywitheveryligamentofyourhearts，norecommendationofmineisnecessarytofortifyorconfirmtheattachment.TheunityofGovernment，whichconstitutesyouonepeople，isalsonowdeartoyou.Itisjustlyso；

foritisamainpillarintheedificeofyourrealindependence，thesupportofyourtranquillityathome，yourpeaceabroad；

ofyoursafety；

ofyourprosperity；

ofthatveryLiberty，whichyousohighlyprize.Butasitiseasytoforesee，that，fromdifferentcausesandfromdifferentquarters，muchpainswillbetaken，manyartificesemployed，toweakeninyourmindstheconvictionofthistruth；

asthisisthepointinyourpoliticalfortressagainstwhichthebatteriesofinternalandexternalenemieswillbemostconstantlyandactively（thoughoftencovertlyandinsidiously）directed，itisofinfinitemoment，thatyoushouldproperlyestimatetheimmensevalueofyournationalUniontoyourcollectiveandindividualhappiness；

thatyoushouldcherishacordial，habitual，andimmovableattachmenttoit；

accustomingyourselvestothinkandspeakofitasofthePalladiumofyourpoliticalsafetyandprosperity；

watchingforitspreservationwithjealousanxiety；

discountenancingwhatevermaysuggestevenasuspicion，thatitcaninanyeventbeabandoned；

andindignantlyfrowninguponthefirstdawningofeveryattempttoalienateanyportionofourcountryfromtherest，ortoenfeeblethesacredtieswhichnowlinktogetherthevariousparts.Forthisyouhaveeveryinducementofsympathyandinterest.Citizens，bybirthorchoice，ofacommoncountry，thatcountryhasarighttoconcentrateyouraffections.Thenameofamerican，whichbelongstoyou，inyournationalcapacity，mustalwaysexaltthejustprideofPatriotism，morethananyappellationderivedfromlocaldiscriminations.Withslightshadesofdifference，youhavethesamereligion，manners，habits，andpoliticalprinciples.Youhaveinacommoncausefoughtandtriumphedtogether；

theIndependenceandLibertyyoupossessaretheworkofjointcounsels，andjointefforts，ofcommondangers，sufferings，andsuccesses.Buttheseconsiderations，howeverpowerfullytheyaddressthemselvestoyoursensibility，aregreatlyoutweighedbythose，whichapplymoreimmediatelytoyourinterest.HereeveryportionofourcountryfindsthemostcommandingmotivesforcarefullyguardingandpreservingtheUnionofthewhole.TheNorth，inanunrestrainedintercoursewiththeSouth，protectedbytheequallawsofacommongovernment，finds，intheproductionsofthelatter，greatadditionalresourcesofmaritimeandcommercialenterpriseandpreciousmaterialsofmanufacturingindustry.TheSouth，inthesameintercourse，benefitingbytheagencyoftheNorth，seesitsagriculturegrowanditscommerceexpand.TurningpartlyintoitsownchannelstheseamenoftheNorth，itfindsitsparticularnavigationinvigorated；

and，whileitcontributes，indifferentways，tonourishandincreasethegeneralmassofthenationalnavigation，itlooksforwardtotheprotectionofamaritimestrength，towhichitselfisunequallyadapted.TheEast，inalikeintercoursewiththeWest，alreadyfinds，andintheprogressiveimprovementofinteriorcommunicationsbylandandwater，willmoreandmorefind，avaluableventforthecommoditieswhichitbringsfromabroad，ormanufacturesathome.TheWestderivesfromtheEastsuppliesrequisitetoitsgrowthandcomfort，and，whatisperhapsofstillgreaterconsequence，itmustofnecessityowethesecureenjoymentofindispensableoutletsforitsownproductionstotheweight，influence，andthefuturemaritimestrengthoftheAtlanticsideoftheUnion，directedbyanindissolublecommunityofinterestasonenation.AnyothertenurebywhichtheWestcanholdthisessentialadvantage，whetherderivedfromitsownseparatestrength，orfromanapostateandunnaturalconnexionwithanyforeignpower，mustbeintrinsicallyprecarious.While，then，everypartofourcountrythusfeelsanimmediateandparticularinterestinUnion，allthepartscombinedcannotfailtofindintheunitedmassofmeansandeffortsgreaterstrength，greaterresource，proportionablygreatersecurityfromexternaldanger，alessfrequentinterruptionoftheirpeacebyforeignnations；

and，whatisofinestimablevalue，theymustderivefromUnionanexemptionfromthosebroilsandwarsbetweenthemselves，whichsofrequentlyafflictne