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ne ASTON E TS ’ * Boog which to us have none, or a very retuote relation, Hence, she must be engaged in, frequent controverstes, the causes of». _ .Which are essentially foreign to our con- ~ cerns. Hence, therefore,.it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combina- - ” tions and collusions of her friendships or enmities, . ~ Our detached and distant situation — invites and enables us to pursue a dit- ferent course. If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far-off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance: when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respect~ ed; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation, when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice? It is our true policy to steer clear of | permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be ob- served in their genuine sense. But in my opinion, it is unnecessary, and would be unwise to extend them. Taking care always to keep ourselves by. suitable establishments, on a re- spectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies. Harmony, and a liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seek- ing nor granting exclusive favors or pref- erences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the gov~ ernment to support them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will - permit, but temporary, and Hable to be trom time to time abandoned or varied as experience and circumstances shall dic- tate; constantly keeping in view, that it is folly in one nation to look for disin- terested favors from another; that it pe must pay with a portion of its inde . ence for whatever it may accept under. that character; that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of °* having given equivalents for nominal . favors, ahd yet of being reproached with - ingratitude for not giving more: There ° can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favors from na- tion to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride . _oughi to discard, : In offering. to you my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate ~ friend, I dare not hope they will make’. the strong and lasting impression I could. ‘wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running, the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations, but if I may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial -benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism: this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare by which they have been ~ dictated. : Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many.errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend, Ishall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that, after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service, with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities. will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest, - Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fer-~ vent love towards it, which is so natural to @ man who views in it the native soi of himself and his progenitors for several generations; I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself to realize without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow citizens, the be- nign influence of good laws under a free. government—the ever favorite object of | my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our -mutual cares, labors and dangers, Gro. WASHINGTON, * - Unirep StTares, 17th September, 1796. _ LIBERTY LOBBY 825 DUPONT CIRCLE BLDG. WASHINGTON 6, D.C. .