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Wic? ROTLEOGE'i ADDRESS
r th x sxptr a t or Ttf i v i r Ip ii-
.tMtf 1 "or imrbif r OKiVct '.
' Trteiiiiatui JPfUw-Qitixenf, v. 7
- tfwlll Jbe M the recollcdion of
ininy.-.bf yoii, - that I bad expreflcd
aJiiorehtioa to retire from public life,
priar to the bft eleftion ot members
of congreis, but-that 1 wai bver:rul
cd bfihe purfuafiona of many r efpec
table peilons.bf yollr dirtrids. It is
ato m yotir knowledge, that having
yielded upr movcn inclinations and
iateireftfto the wiflicst)f my coriftitu
cnfsvy wis r e-cie&ed Tto a feuvlii
'or"reTs,I' in a manhcr.t fl u tering tp
mykefings. .'I he, period,h.as again
arrived when 1, am to decide whe
ther! hall, be a candidate for your
i'uftragc,! or withdraw from the pub-,
t lie lerviceX have wighedi&quef;
: tion maturely, ad I have relolved to
reirervrCi'hi'KJnd.';c6nfi!Jeiice which
yda have been p!ea(ed to repbfe in
me, evidenced by repeareB ele&ions,
en iHesjyou to be jnfmciLof the
reafons of my reiblurions7
'thtf hre lounded on';conridera
tions in part perfonal, and in part of
a public nature . s.
My pflyate affiiirs, having fuffered
by me sfliiipU entire 'devticjn of my
timifj Tor -the lait iic yprs : to my
public duties", nqw require myatfen
tion jat. homc, niore efpecially fmce
thg -venerable friends, w ho hereto
fore totik, charge of them, have been
torn from me by death. .
I truft I (hall always be prepared to
make facfifces br the public welfare.
Yet l do.irot perceive that the iacri-
fics of, my private injerefts w'ould
produce: -at this period, any 'equiva
lent public godd, 'And l feci mjfelf
more at liberty to purfueVmy, own
inclinations, fince, by ths.tfew raodi-
fetiefa of the eleclioh!'(ti(tnds'c' the
di'jlri&s which J have had the honor,
to reprefenr are feparated from ea;h
oi her, and - yoked to" others' with
which 1 have' ffevcr had ally political"
connection .:; . : -. ; ; ;-" ! - -
'fhs confideTabxTM of public na
tvre; f which hav guided my judg-
5 bent," are numerous and 0overiul.
ana naturally lead to a targe retro-.
wiinif briefe r . . w
The termination: of the war svith
Great-fihiain left tnefe"DnitedStates
in an exhaulted condition. Great
debts hif been contracled by cbn
grefs, bj the feveral itate' and
there exifted no means of pa1h'g and
providing for them ; public credit
was totally at an', end. Individuals
vere equally deftifdte of credit. The
ihiteg, Without ah - efficient ,i,liead,'
crumbling in their weeknefsi and ur
ged bj the want? diUreires oft heir
- eifcensVlfelbrted to. inltalments arid
' tehder jaws, to paper money and o-
ther eispedients,. which aggravated
?mty wnder which they laboured.
f he moil Kloiqiny aDprehenfions be-
Kan to be entertaiTted for the fate ot
-theuntJl'hs'etrunent men who
fiaa planned and effected the revolu
Wamington.;f tThe. firft, care.' of the (
ncv government was to. provide tot
the liquidation of the public debt,
and the punctual payment of the iii
tereft of it j to reltore public credit,
and to fecure the: found adminilba
tion of Jultice .- i he .luccefs pfi the
meafures then deviled, and fince pur -fued,v
has been complete.' ,Tl'heita
tion advanced with gigantic Jleps
from pbvertyi ' didrefs, weaekriefs'
degradation, td' wealthj2jtharalcr
and greatnefs. Iii the mean tnneta
war broke pujt iarcoietVttnpTce?
dented inits pature, ; extent ao4 eK
ie&hZ; It -wasrthe intefeft ol the A
merican nation,, and the iJuty utiti
government, . to arold being drawtf
into the war and to enjoy the advan
tages of its neutral pofi timt France
delired, and Great-Britain - appre
hended, that the united ( brates
would become a party in the, war,
juid intriguci wtr e? fuar ed.by theH
fornler to feduce or to fofce them'in
to jt. Indeed both the bctligerqiit
ahufed their rights and their power,
arid the enormous fpolhitions com
mitted by both oi the medcan com
merce, made it dffiicuh to pronounce
w hichTjf - thenr w as molt" inimicatTcF
America, or with which lhe fhoutJ
be firft compelled to wage war : the
tufion, aided by fbtrie others, who,
Iriendly; in. the, hrlt tnltance to. tjiat .
murument, ?na oeen. anappointpd
itf their perfpnat expeilations, form
ed a fyftmtit: pppofuion to the ad '
miniftration of It- 4-i he afluptiori of
thedebtspf the ftates incurred in a
general defence, which fa ved lever al l
of themffpm bankruptcy j the fund-"
trig1 the riaupnal dbt. which revived
riublic credit ; the eltablifliment of a"
national bank, which gav e facilities'
to government and to commerce, be
fore unexperienced, ivere all refill.
PvVhen the French revoJution bro):eN
ua, auu a general war, .m Europe,
compelled the American government
to; decide what conduct it would pur
(ue prefi.dent Wafliingion,. WhoTe'
penetrat irig j udgment quickly dif
Cernedith.e true path 6t found policy,
iffacd his p;oclamatiDn,Qf neutrality,
reeallirigthemft
a dpe attention to Cie duties pi a fair
neutrality, t "i'his wife meafure iii m
ly adheared to, p eferved our nation
from ' JA.flilv erigageing in the war.-
No man of fenl'e will now.derir this.
Jatthauiine, it was reprehended
chief difference between them cpri
fiited in this, jLhat the Frenchjupcf
addeo infult to injury. .
! .ThiV (late of things demanded the
exercife of the greateil caution, mix-
cd with frmne srJJjy4hemerkat
government. 1 he diihculriesand the at th? refufaj.ol America to'make
varied hoftile appearances which
threatened our peace ; the ftruggles
& the ultimate fuccefs which crown
ed the labours of the adminiilrations
of prtfidtnts Waftiington & Adams,
are: known and felt by us. all. t Our
nation alcne of all civilized narions,
connected with France and Great
Uritain by commercial ties, efcaped
the ilofm ; and by the wifdom of the
j; government, enjoyed in troubled
time?, inc unmcuic auvajuae or a
great neutralt "commerce,, which en
riched the people,: and extended the
national reibiirccs.
:. . , .... - . '
Purine fhe whole courfe of things
thus funtmarily .brought to your re-;
dcHeflion, there exilfed a. marked
opppA'ttoo to im por t an t-mea;
lute, which .b? ated u The. a-
doption of t t conilitufionT
Wds refilled: w, lencej and to
a degree which endai3gyred it.t. Ma
ny vifionary mctwho4ciQwVdgl
edrfie imbecilfcy 6t the pfij confede
ration,' Were yet afraM toririfl an
govefrtment with the powers' (Telega
ted by the ronllitujiofi In general5
howeveri the fmall dates had the'dif.
cernment i o perceive t hat if wit deep,,
iy ineitinierru to aaopi inc comuttt
in the wildeft terms of . reproach an
I alfociatlott with'the deftines bf France4
was the. great object of. democratic
defire& the government Vvas: am-'
dered,irid almolt haken .for da-
ring to'riegociate with (Jrea.r-JJrain,"
and to termmat the differences with
tnac ijarmn, py.ueary. -in trie pro-
rated-
uort were alaVmed at this apparent
Wue- of' their rojU and fufferings ?
ttole''Yat thereexifted an imoeri.
imDerr
csiiecwity tP provide a remedy for:
ujcic tvus.v va; convention roune
Sates $a called ; it Was filled with
great iridvirttfous meni ;11iey foon
fcoyered jthat a national head was
fcamingfr and that nothing mdrt of
'uc iqrraauon or an enicient generai
government-could relot e the coilri
: try to a found Ibte'tjiey therdorc
: formed a conltitution or framepfgb
vetament on new prindples, combl
iung the advantages of a confeder
republic with thofe of a national
JjOVernmttlLw as 'adopfed in the1
Hate conventions, arid went into o
rerarioa.b AjSg, under Prefident
common qatife with, them, commit
ted the molt flagrant violations pf
treaty, fpoilcd pur commerce, ; and
rejected with fcorn the folem'n embaf-
lies fent to concilia e them.; When
every effort at negotiation failed,,
the United States had almofl exhaufl
ed the cup of humiliation tp the dregs
the national ; (pit it rofc,, and.lpydly
demanded meafures bf nayalandmi-.
litary preparation, to place toe cyun
try in a pofture of defence,, and vin.'.
dicate the national' honor and cha-raSerT-Tbe
call yas t obeyed,'- and.
congref$ tooH meal ures o : equip a'
navy, to form a provifional ar.my to
fortifv the defencelefs leaports,' and
to purchafe arms and Ammunition,'
and they impoled the taxes neceflry
to lupporfHhefeexpendiuTes.----7
They alio palTed als by .winch dao.
gerous tirangers, lurking in the bo
ldVnof the community, ' might be re
moved 5'; and: tor the puilhm.en o
fedjtipu petfons Thefe ails grew
put ot the then Hate of public, aff airs', "
aua were in nifon with the tone of
thff: public, .inind. -l T he. immortal
Walhington, at that rime retiedto
Mounf y ernumi v reflected op: thefe
meafures with. a Jieart ever L alive
tion - they were, weak, without if i lS!fT-"nhiap
thisthey:werefenftble,-and acceptcdi-J0 amsofjuly;
ik--.x (t.I: k ;oiA:-B ; i i70o.v' Yet. thote who bad uncea-
their Itate convemiotS' '1 lie cafe mr $0 'ftpproycd every fljeafure of
far different in thegrt ftateS , . &m?J3biS
dangoroui to the public lit
pride Pf date fbvereignty wpuld be
humbled by a fupermtendin " and
controlling general jovetpmepti1-''
Nor cjojlld they brook'" the1 equaT rW
preferiratjbri in the feii'a'te'pFiji(e;U:
ted htalcfi.' 'which made Delaware as
impprtar.t aj, Virginia,'' New-J? rfey as,
loncmany, p tneemmeqt 9en
who guided the councils of the Rreat
ftateswefe galled at the reduiliph
of their authority & exatea avtierce t
oppofitiopw the adoption of the in- '
ftrume'nt vpich was to produce thefe
effects nor was it adopted' in Virgin
nia, New-York- and Pcnnlylvariia,
without mighty ftruggtes, and by ve
ry fmall jnajorities irf the two former;
The good whkh has been obtained
by the adoption; Is on recofd.V Tie(r
evils avoided iare incalculable.
v It ritated br defear; thofea had
oppofed the acceptance of th&cdhfti.
An onnnfitLvW fn ftladv. OTffanll
ed, V aftive and virulent, could not
be .wilhftpocL It is wjbndeftul that.
tne vreaerat aammiuraiion uooaus
ground fo long as it did, Nothing
i bati, the.'-, wifdora oHtaheafures, its
it,,:.s All thefe ultimately were m
svailinainft thePbntiriual inire-
preieniauons ana uanucrs wuicn n
failedif.' The opbolition,' by llitoti-
latmg difebntents, on the impoption
ot tne new taxes rendered neceuary
by the circumiiances4f ,the tirne i
by'infulin diftrufls in the minds of
the people and by a thoufand arts
pracifed oh ;their, xrcdolityi cpntri-:
ved at length to render the ad mlnif-
itration unpopular;ffAt the election
pf Prefidentiand yice-Prefiderit, the
federal candidates were rejected, and
, , ' v ';. f '.i .. J' ' r ' i ' f '.
1 ' f. .: -.' ! .'- -m
the demcratic,ca9ijate8,were ele6b
td 1 a majority) was- alio. obtained ia
the houle: ok tcprelehtatives of the f
United StateIt.pimc4'Vy ape
f uliar cb-inddeiice'tnat this change"
pt (ovirftmeriX l60 place'ffidtf -time,
previous to the termination of
jthe war in turopei4fije.iedawfsf'
Whole wifdomhad ial'!oeS'pefioia-t
Vtd the United: StaesoniaCiIy!
pluriging into ihat'wart.were'rejed.; -thc
deuiocrafs wljofe. coufej wpujd .
have, produced- thsit pffettjwere, cle-,y
vated lo $iow'eis f..i yr. t:ti';.is;i-:'- .
1 - Itiis of. prime inortance tp; fe
maikl tliat the individuals :wh'oyerei'ii...
chiefly oppofed. to. the adbptfon of -,
the conftituticn, or dilfati? fled' With' -it,
.were, the perfpris gch'erall wno.'
have alio . been oppofed ,td all great '
meaAircs,. whictihavbeefprici in'
practice to be productive yfidyanta'
ges to the Unitedf States Vahd th ;y: i
nave been, (witn-lc.e'xcjepbon.sjp--the
perlbns whofe activity and viok
lence, contributed, cfiieiBy to the?
change of admiiiifatipii.; Snd that
thofe men now fili the. great Ua tions '
in the general government. ' It is al
io worthy Pi remark;- that the ableft
& niol influential men of this del crijv
tion, are ttom tftegrea nates, which
fo reluctant iy; came into the ' uiiion'
undet ihecbnltitution -.f I mean Vif.
Ginia, Norifi-Catofinafy .'Pthtilth-;
nia, snd NewYork. VThere are ex
ceptions 4obtleftftd,the4e,calesjf
but they were hot very numerous.
How wilcly the. people ol thr United
States .have ccted-in thus t?kicg ther"
government out 6f the'handsv ofthpfe
who lormcd it, and nuried it,; and
maintairfed in its tbnjftftutftinal eneV-
gy in ortftr to. place t ititxhe hands
of thofe .iyho were oppofed to its a- .
doption;" and who refilled all the
mea.'ures calculated to give it luIJ
free Operation, U not for" an ind?vi-'
dual to'dec(dpv, .J fubmiOo the will1
ofriiy coutrv
more cordiall. iA;spr'6Tpejriry undei;
any admillranon,.v i r: ,
pn the acceon ;of the prpiibnt
ininifti,a.tioiin March ,i 80 , -it founds
the nation at peace, but prepared for
war. I-.- r '. ' ' :;srf ;'- '
It found the differences which had
fublllted with-Great-Britain arnica
biy aiju fled, ' and the northern poll ,
'lurrendered up.- ;..- ':'.':'-:: '- -y '
It found the difpurei wiih Spaiijf
terminated.- by the able negobiafioris'
of Major Pinckne ; by jwhich thb.
right ;to the free navigaiop . of the!
'Miffiffippi'wis .fecureia smd (Irengthj ..
end. x.-i , .', :,
;,vIt found the Indian, tribes on our
frontiei s i eprelted ad qujei.ed."; --ij"
It jfoun d a fmall -it my orgaijifed .
and forminpr the germ ofanyioTce -
which the. public exigencies .'might
require.. ,.v-v.;UM "
It fou tid a nav created j jwhich had
-rendered fubllantial -lervicc" tcrthe7"-"
nations- i-'--':trpx .K''r,
, It found f he; national debt provided .r
for; arid irj part i educed r
s It fbiinji .meriireaTwjrfuiI, raniTKel' ;
pubhV'feclit. higli.'?; ' V -'
af fprind a. jicoplericrerfirig in po! v
pulatlQfi and aVcbuntry. adyanohg'
in prpfperity, in a raariner unexam-''-pled
I n any , preceding age or nation.,
, Suqh is he Vcountry, and, ; fuch is
the Hate pf thing s, .which the federal
adminiitration left io their fucceflbrs
his the firft wilhpf nry;hean,;and
the moft ardent prayer of my mind,
that; the; democratic fadminillratpinc. '
may fo adminlfter ,tus governmenty , t
that thejr may deliver to their furctf
fors,fo Tair a country in fuch1 high1 :
profperity. ; f 'iy.
VTime alone, wllecidei But"hx : '
icems tp beet4ed,i that.if the, lame -end
is tp beuobtaitied, it fllall bebyt. -far
.different means. Already great
changes have been made, "and more,! v
are contemplated, Already the mea4 ,
(ures calculated plE.de the 'coiiiHtp
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