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fully placed the sovereignty of the country, and to you every one placed in authority is ultimately responsible. It is always in your power to see that the wishes of the people are carried into faithful execution, and their will, when once made known, must sooner or later be obeyed. And while the people remain, as I trust they ever will, uncorrupted and incorruptible, and continue watchful and jealous of their rights, the government is safe, and the cause of freedom will continue to triumph over all its enemies.

But it will require steady and persevering exertions on your part to rid yourselves of the iniquities and mischiefs of the paper system, and to check the spirit of monopoly and other abuses which have sprung up, with it, and of which it is the main support. So many interests are united to resist all reform on this subject, that you must not hope the conflict will be a short one, nor success easy. My humble efforts have not been spared, during my administration of the government, to restore the constitutional currency of gold and silver: and something, I trust, has been done towards the accomplishment of this most desirable object. But enough yet remains to require all your energy and perseverance. The power, however, is in your hands, and the remedy must and will be applied if you determine upon it.

While I am thus endeavoring to press upon your attention the principles which I deem of vital importance to the domestic concerns of the country, I ought not to pass over without notice, the important considerations which should govern your policy towards foreign powers. It is unquestionably our true interest to cultivate the most friendly understanding with every nation, and to avoid, by every honorable means, the calamities of war; and we shall best attain that object by frankness and sincreity in our foreign intercourse, by the prompt and faithful execu tion of treaties, and by justice and impartiality in our conduct to all. But no nation, however desirous of peace, can hope to escape collisions with other powers; and the soundest dictates of policy require that we should place ourselves in a condition to assert our rights, if a resort to force should ever become necessary. Our local situation,

our long line of sea-coast, indented by numerous bays, with deep rivers opening into the interior, as well as her extended and still increasing commerce, point to the navy as our natural means of defence. It will, in the end, be found to be the cheapest and most effectual; and now is the time, in a season of peace, and with an overflowing revenue, that we can year after year add to its strength, without increasing the burdens of the people. It is your true policy. For your navy will not only protect your rich and flourishing commerce in distant seas, but enable you to reach and annoy the enemy, and will give to defence its greatest efficiency, by meeting danger at a distance from home. It is impossible by any line of fortifi cations to guard every point from attack against a hostile force advancing from the ocean, and selecting its object; but they are indispensable to prevent cities from bombardment; dock-yards and navy arsenals from destruction; to give shelter to merchant vessels in time of war, and to single ships of weaker squadrons when pressed by superior force. Fortifications of this description cannot be too soon completed and armed, and placed in a condition of the most perfect preparation. The abundant means we now possess cannot be applied in any manner more useful to the country; and when this is done, and our naval force sufficiently strengthened, and our military armed, we need not fear that any nation will wantonly insult us, or needlessly provoke hostilities. We shall more certainly preserve peace, when it is well understood that we are prepared for war.

In presenting to you, my fellow-citizens, these parting counsels, I have brought before you the leading principles upon which I endeavored to administer the government in the high office with which you twice honored me. Knowing that the path of freedom is continually beset by enemies, who often assume the disguise of friends, I have devoted the last hours of my public life to warn you of the dangers. The progress of the United States, under our free and happy institutions, has surpassed the most sanguine hopes of the founders of the republic. Our growth has been rapid beyond all former example, in numbers, in wealth, in knowledge, and all the useful arts

which contribute to the comforts and convenience of man; and from the earliest ages of history to the present day, there never have been thirteen millions of people associated together in one political body, who enjoyed so much freedom and happiness as the people of these United States. You have no longer any cause to fear danger from abroad; your strength and power are well known throughout the civilized world, as well as the high and gallant bearing of your sons. It is from within, among yourselves, from cupidity, from corruption, from disappointed ambition, and inordinate thirst for power, that factions will be formed and liberty endangered. It is against such designs, whatever disguise the actors may assume, that you have especially to guard yourselves. You have the highest of human trusts committed to your care. Providence has showered on this favored land blessings without number, and has chosen you, as the guardians of freedom, to preserve it for the benefit of the human race. May He, who holds in his hands the des tinies of nations, make you worthy of the favors he has bestowed, and enable you, with pure hearts, and pure hands, and sleepless vigilance, to guard and defend to the end of time the great charge he has committed to your keeping.

My own race is nearly run; advanced age and failing health warn me that before long I must pass beyond the reach of human events, and cease to feel the vicissitudes of human affairs. I thank God that my life has been spent in a land of liberty, and that he has given me a heart to love my country with the affection of a son. And filled with gratitude for your constant and unwaver ing kindness, I bid you a last and affectionate farewell.

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST

OF THE OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES.

FIRST ADMINISTRATION-1789 TO 1797-8 YEARS. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Virginia, April 30, 1789. President.

John Adams,

1789.

Massachusetts,

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do. Appointed. Sept. 26, 1789.

Vice President.

Jan. 2, 1794.

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Timothy Pickering,

Massachusetts, Dec. 10, 1795.

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New York, Sept 11, 1789.
Connecticut, Feb. 3, 1795.

Secretaries of the

Treasury.

Henry Knox,

Massachusetts,Sept. 12, 1789.

Secretaries of

Timothy Pickering,

do.

Jan. 2, 1795.

War.

James M'Henry,

Maryland,

Jan. 27, 1796.

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Maryland, (contin'd in office.) { Secretaries of the

do.

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Albert Gallatin,
George W. Campbell,
Alexander J. Dallas,
William Eustis,
John Armstrong,
James Monroe,

War.

Penn., (continued in office.)
Tennessee, Feb. 9, 1814.
Pennsylvania, Oct. 6, 1814.
Massachusetts, March 7, 1809.
New York, Jan. 13, 1813. (Secretaries of
Virginia, Sept. 27, 1814.
Georgia, March 2, 1815.
South Carolina, March 7, 1809.
Pennsylvania, Jan. 12, 1813.

Secretaries of the
Treasury.

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William H. Crawford,

Paul Hamilton,

William Jones,

B. W. Crowninshield, Massachusetts,Dec. 19, 1814.

Secretaries of the

Navy.

FIFTH ADMINISTRATION-1817 TO 1825-8 YEARS.

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Isaac Shelby,

Kentucky,

Massachusetts, March 5, 1817.

do. 1817.

do. 1817.

John C. Calhoun, South Carolina, Dec. 16, 1817.
B. W. Crowninshield, Mass., (continued in office.)
Smith Thompson,
New York, Nov. 30, 1818.
Samuel L. Southard, New Jersey,

Dec. 9, 1823.

Sec'ry of State.
Sec. of the Treas.
Secretaries of
War.

Secretaries of the

Navy.

SIXTH ADMINISTRATION-1825 TO 1829-4 YEARS.
Massachusetts, March 4, 1825. President.

JOHN Q. ADAMS,

John C. Calhoun,

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Henry Clay,

Kentucky,

March 8, 1825.

Sec'ry of State.

Richard Rush,

Sec. of the Treas.

James Barbour,

do. 1825.

Secretaries of

Peter B. Porter,

Samuel L. Southard,

Pennsylvania, March 7, 1825.

Virginia,

New York, May 26, 1828.

War.

New Jersey, (contin'd in office.) Sec. of the Navy.

SEVENTH ADMINISTRATION-1829 TO 1837-8 YEARS.

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