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is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little POLITICAL Connection as poflible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith.-Here let us ftop.

27. Europe has a fet of primary interefts, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are effentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwife in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties, in the ordinary viciffitudes of her politics, or the or dinary combinations and collifions of her friendships, or enmities. Our detached and diftant fituation invites and enables us to purfue a different 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 fuch an attitude as will cause the neutrality, we may at any time refolve upon, to be fcrupuoufly refpected; when belligerent nations, under the impoffibility of making acquifitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choofe peace or war, as our intereft, guided by juf-tice, fhall counfel.

28. Why forego the advantages of fo peculiar a fitnation? Why quit our own to ftand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and profperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalfhip, intereft, humor or caprice? 'Tis our true policy to fteer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world; fo far, I mean as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me nos be understood as capable of patronifing infidelity to exift-: ing engagements. I hold the maxim no lefs applicable to publie than to private affairs, that honefty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let thofe engagements be observed in their genuine fenfe. But, in my opinion, it is unneceffary, and would be unwife, to extend them. Taking care always to keep ourfelves, by fuitable eitab-lifhments, on a refpectable defenfive pofture, we may fafely truft to temporary alliances for extraordinary emer

gencies.

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29. Harmony, liberal intercourfe with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy fhould hold an equal and impartial hand; neither feeking nor granting exclufive favors or preferences; confulting the natural courfe of things; diffufing and diverfifying by gentle means the ftreams of commerce, but forcing nothing; eftablishing, with powers fo disposed, in order to give trade a stable courfe, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the government to fupport them, conventional rules. of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary, and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied, as experience and circumftances fhall dictate; conftantly keeping în view, that 'tis folly in one nation to look for difinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by fuch acceptance, it may place itfelf in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater era ror than to expect, or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. Tis an illufion which experience must cure, which a juft pride ought to discard.

30. In offering to you, my countrymen, these coun-. fels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impreffion I could wifh that they will controul the ufual current of the paffions, or prevent our nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the deftiny of nations: But, if I may even flatter myself, that they may be productive of fome partial benefit, fome occafional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party fpirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigues,. and guard against the impoftures of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompence for the folicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated. How far, in the difcharge of my official duties, I have been guided by the principles which have been delineated, the

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public records and other evidences of my conduct witness to you and to the world. To myfelf, the amurance of my own confcience is, that I have at least believed myself to be guided by them.

31. In relation to the ftill fubfifting war in Europe, my proclamation of the 22d of April, 1793, is the index to my plan. Sanctioned by your approving voice and by that of your reprefentatives in both houfes of congrefs, the spirit of that measure has continually governed me; uninfluenced by any attempt to deter or divert me from

it.

After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best lights I could obtain, I was well fatisfied that our country, under all the circumftances of the cafe, had a right to take, and was bound in duty and intereft, to take a neutral pofition. Having taken it, I determined, as far fhould depend upon me, to maintain it, with moder perfeverance and firmness.

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32. The confideration which respects the right su the conduct, it is not neceffary on this occafion to detail. 1 will only obferve, that according to my understanding of the matter, that right, so far from being denied by any of the belligerent powers, has been virtually admitted b all. The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be in ferred, without any thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose upon every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of peace and amity towards other nations. The inducements of interest for observing that condu&t will best he referred to your own reflections and experience. With me, a predominant motive has been to endeavor to gain time to our country to fettle and mature its yet recent inftitutions, and to progrefs without interruption, to that degree of strength and consistency, which is neceffary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.

33. Tho in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconfcious of intentional error: I am never theless too fenfible of my defects not to think it proba ble that I may have committed many eriors. Whatever

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2 may be, I fervently befeech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I fhall alfo carry with me the hope that my country will never ceafe to view them with indulgence; and that after fortyfive years of my life dedicated to its fervice, with an upright real, the faults of incompetent abilities will be configned to oblivion, as myself muft foon be to the mansions of reft. Relying on its kindness in this as in other. things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is fo natural to a man, who views in it the native foil of himself and his progenitors for feveral generations; I anticipate with pleafing expectation that retreat, in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midft of my fellow citizens,

benign influence of good laws under a free governefted -the ever favourite object of my heart, and the of its, reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors and dangers.

G. WASHINGTON..

FINISS

CONTENTS.

Hiftory of the Revolution in America, commencing
with its remote caufes.

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Prefent condition of the feveral States, including
their fituation, extent, population, productions,
commerce, manufactures, and civil conflitution.

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