mrars to rcpe! it ; 'avowing likcwife the 3c
02r.rn.aucn cf debt, nctor.iyby (huhnir.jr be
ckons of cxpcr.ee, hut by- vigorous exertu
o;:s in time ot pence, to difcharee ihed.hts
winch unavoidable wars uzzy have occalion.
cd, not ungencroufly. throwing: upon pcile
ray the burthen which ve . cur fclv es ought
ty bear. The execution of thole tuvL
be!cpgs to your reprcientativesi hut k is ne
cciTury that public opinion ihcnld co-operate.',
'i o fuciiltatc :o tiicin the performance of iheif
lllV jt iscflsatial that you ihodld praaital
ly bear in mind, that, towards the payment
of debts , there muit be Reveritc ; that to
, hive Revenue there inuil be taxes : that nti
bnss cart be devifed which arc not-more cf
lefs ;nconvei:ient and unpleafint ; that , the
::un;iiicer.ibarrri!.ncnt3 infcparable from, the
Mectioa of the proper objects, (which is nl.
:uays.a choe , of dlScUics ought to be
a dcct:ve r.ptivc for a cnulld co.iTjrudioitwf '
the con&y$ oi the goverifcnent imnickh -cr h;
aij4Jcr aJpirkif tqaiclceiice uihe meafures
tor obtuiiiuio i t vrnur Ayhlcii the public ckii
genties may a: :.ny time dihte.
.ptifcryc goaj faith and jud ice towards all
nations, cultivate peace and harmony with
all : Religion and morality enjoin this con
duel ; end can :t he that good policy does
not equally enjoin it It will be worthy of
a free, enlightened, and at no dHlant peri
od, a grc..t Nation, to give to mankintl ihd
magnanimous and noale example of a peo
ple alw ays guided by an exalted juiliee and
hcncyolcr c c. V ho can doubt that in the ;
courfe of time and things the fruits of fuch a
pUn would richly repay any temporary ad
vantages which might be bit by a lieady ad
herence to itr Caii k be, that Providence
has not connected the "permanent felicity of
a Nation with its Virtue The experiment;
at lea It, is recommended by every ientimcnt
which ennobles human nature. Alas ! is it
rendered hnpoflibie by hsvices ? ; ."''
:In the execution of fuch a plan,'rJotIi:hI
is more efiential than that permanent inycter
atejmupjtthies againir particular- Nations,and
palfton'ate attachments fcr others iheuld be
excluded ; and that in place of them juit and
amicable feelings towards sllhould be ctfriv.
ted. The Nation; which indulges towards
another an Iiabitual hatred, or an habitual
iondne$ is in fome dsgree a Have: 1 1 is a
Have to its animotky or to its ajFection, either
cf which is fulficicnt to lead it aitray from its
duty and ksmterchV Antipathy in one na
tion agamit another difpofescach more read'K
ly to oiier infult and injury, to lay hold cfV
il'ght caufes of umbrage, and to be haughty
end intra: t:bb, when accidental or trifling,
cccatious of difpute occur. Hence frequent
cctliGons, obftinarc, envenomed, and bloody
cor.teits. The Nation, prompted by ill will
and reientment, fimcrimes impels ' to war
the government, co!itr::ry to the bel calcu.
latjons of policy. 1 he government fometimes
j-articjpajcs in the national propeniity; and
adopts through paflion whatreafoti would re
jeci; at other times is makes the animfclity
of the nations fubfer- ient to projects of holt.-"
l'ty i.illirated by pride, ambition and other
liaillcr and penitciotis motives. .The peace
often, lbmc times perhaps the liberty, of Na. '
tiens has been the vidim.
.So likev.ife, a palf onnt e attachment of one
iiation ftr another, produces a variety of c
vils. Sympathy for the favorite Nation, fa
cilitating the iiUiilon of an imaginary com
moii inrercll, in cifr s where no real common
hjtertfi exills, and inhaling into one the err.
inities of the other, betrays the former into
a pjirtkipation b the quarrels and wars of
tle latter, xvithout adequate induccnient '"c
jutiificatiuns- . It lead aHb to concemohsto
the 'favorite Nation, of prlviledges denied o
oincrs, which is apt undoubtedly to injure
the Na' ion. making the concelEons ; by uq
ncccfTyrily parting with what ought to have
Jbctii retained ; :md by exciting jealoufy,
ill will, and a diifolltion to retaliate; in the
pasties: froia whom equal ipnviledgesVare
Maiuiuu iHi iu MiitUillOUS, COr-
niptcd, cr. deluded titiJens (who devote
tficmfelvcs to the favcrke nat;6n) f:.cilirv to .
betray or fatritke ti e ir.tcidls of their cwii
cjuntry:, , .vvitl cut. ctiy.ni, fcmftimcs'cvea
with pcpulrritj ; gilcti gwkh the appearan
ces of a virtuous fenfe of cbligaticn a com
iner.d.'bje deference for public opinion, or; a
laudable zeal for public gocd, the bafe or
foolifij compliances of ambition, corruption
or infatuation-
" As avxnucs to foreign influence in innumer
able ways, inch attachments are particularly
alarming to tHe truly en lightered and inde-.
pendent Patriot. How many opportunities
do they afford to tamper with domeitic fati-
ons,, to practice the arts'cf -fedLvtionJ to mi
flead public; opinion, to infiuer.ee or jaw?e the
Public Councils! Such an attachment towards
a fmall or weak, towardsa great amf pow
erinl nation, dooms the former to the fat el
htes of the latter-
I Againlt the inHcluous yiles cf foreigrt in
fluence (I conjure to believe me, fellow citi
zeitb) the jealoufy, of a free people, ought to
be tcrflantly awake fmce hiitory and lex
K"rii7ice prove that fofeijn influence is oile of
the molt baneful foevs cf r epublican Gbverni
men:. But that jealouiy to bexUfiEful,mul be
impartial ; the it beccmes the milrument of
the Very influence to.be avoided, inftead of a
defence againft it: - Exceflive partiality for1
one foreign nation, and excelhve diflike'for
another, caufe tht fe w hem they Actuate to N
lee ('I'liger only on cne fide, and feryeto Veil
and even fecend the arts cf influence on the
Other. Real patriots, who may refit the in
trigues of the favorite; are liable to beccnie
f uipeded1 and odious ; while, its fools, and
dupes ufurp the applatife and confidence cf
the people, to lurrencer their interefhV
't 1 he gre at rule of conduct for us, in regard
to foreign hations; is in i extending our com
mercial relations," to have ; witli them as little
- oitv? connection' as jjcfilble: ; So far as we
have already formed engagements, let them
be fulfilled with ptr fe5t good faith: Here let
us flop . '.'""'," . " - "v .. I1:""' ' '
Europe has a fee of primary mterefis, ivkicii
to us have, none, or a very remote relation:
Hence (he mull be engaged in frequent con
troverfies, the caufes cf which are cfTehtially
foreign to our concerns- KencetiitreixSre, '
it mult lie unwife in us tb implicate our fclves:.
by artificial ties, in the ordinary viciflitudes of
her politics, in, the ordinary coiiib'riations'and
cbllUions of her friendlhips or enmities. 1
Our detached and difbnt. fituation Invites
and enables. us to purfue a diiferent courle:
:If w e remain'one people, under an efficient
government, the period is not far cn, when
we may defy materiaVinjdry from ' external
rnnoyance ; when we may talce .'fuck an atti
tude i s will caufe the neutrality, we may at
any time refolve upon, to be fcrnpulcuily
refpected ; when Leiiigerent nations, sunder
the impombility of making acquifitions upon
us, Villnot lightly hazard the giving us pro
vocation ; when we may choofe peace or war
as our inteielt 'guided by juftice, Jliall coun
feU' :.. " : ' : i : : .' ,.:
' Why forego the advantages of fo peculiar
a fituation ? W hy quit our own to itahdup-':
oh foreign ground !. Why; by interweaving
out deltiny with that of aiiy part of Eur op c,
entcngle our peace and prolperity in the iciis
of European ambition rivaliliip, inter eit, "
humour or caprice ? ' - f '
'lis our true policy to fleer clear of per
manent alliances, . with . any portion cf the fo
reign world ; fo far, I mean, as we are at
liberty to do it ; for let iue "i:ot : be under-
ftood as capable of patroniiing , infidelity to '
cxiiiing engagements. I held the maxim no
leis appiicabie to public than to private af burs,
tliat honeity is the belt policy;.' l v repeat it .
therefore, let thofe er.gagmentsiie ohfei ved
in their genuine fenfe. But in-.Jpy Opinion, it
fs untieeellary and ould be unwife to extend
Taking care al w ?ys to keep ourfelves, by
ftiitable clt&bKHmcr.ts, on a refpeable de
fenfive poftiire, we may fafely'trnit to tem
porary alliances for extraordinary, emergen-
cies. ' ..:-' . , L, .7:'...-
Harmony, liberal intercourle with all na
tions, are recommended by policy, humanity
and uitereir. ljut even our commercial po
licy mould hold an equal tnd impartial hand,
neither fceking nor granting exclufive favors
cr prefcrencts ; eoniultmg the natural corrle
cf things ; diflkfirg and diversifying by gentle
means tne itrcams ct commerce, but Icrcih
x notkirg, ficbilfhingvith power's Vo difpoC
ed, in order to give triide a itable courfe; to
define the rights cf ournlefchants aril to en
able the gov err me nr to fupport them-; cca
venticnal ri les of inter courfe the beii met
prefent circUmflarces and mutual ;'cpirion
will permit, but temporary, " and lisble tote
. from rime to time abanconc dor variedas ex
perience tnd circLmftances fball dictate;
ccnflantly keeping in view, that 'tis folly in
one riation to look for difmterefted favcurS
from r-ccther ; that'it unit pay with a por
tion of Jtsindepepdercefcr whatever it may
accept" under that character.': that ', by -fuch.
rcceptanee, it may place itfelf in the cordi
ticn of having given equivalents for rcminal
favours, ?nd yet of being ; reproached- with
irgratiu cc ibr r-ot giving mere. 1 here- can
be no create eircr than to expecr, cr cal
culate I'poh real favours from nation lofira
ticn yi is anliihcn yihlth experieit'cc mult"
cure, v nkh a jift pride ought :q d'.fcarct. -
Inj cbferving to you, : n y "countrymen,1
thefe ccunfels cf an old and aifeciionato
! friend, I dare not hope they will makethe
lafting in: prc.fi on 1 iculd" wifli ; that they.
ill c'ontrcul the Ufual current of the cdii-
ciis, or prevent our nation from running the
ccurfe which has hitherto marked the.dcfliny
of nations; Butafl may even flatter ' my felf
that i hey may be prcduclive cf fome partial
benefit, feme cccsficnsl "gcbd); that they
mav now and then recur to mode rate the fury
of party fpirit, to warn agaiuitthe mifchiefs
fif nartv intripue.Hto ouard sp-ainlb the im-
pcliurcs'cf pretended patriotilu" ; thishbpe
..in Ua r..l ; C .i. i::.-.i
for ybur welfare; by which they have beea
dictated". -
How far in the discharge cf my qfliclal du
ties, I have been ouided by the principles
whicfc have been delineated, the public re
cords and other evidences of my conduct rnuft-
, witnefs to ycti i nd to the world. To mylelf
the aflurai te of my confeience is,; that I have
at leafl belie ved my felf to b guided by theni
r In relation tothe ft ill fubfiltirg war hi Eu
rope, my p reclamation of the 2d cf .pril
! 703, is the index- to my plan: Sarcrrbr.tci
by your apprpvir voice and fcy that cfycrrr
lleprefentaiives inbcth Hcufes of Cotigrefs,1
the fpirit of that meafure has continually go-:
verned me : Unirfiuenced by any attempts to
. deter cr divert n'e from it-'
After deliberate exam'marOn with the aid
of the be ft Ijgl.ts I could obtain, I was veil
intisll cd ihat ci.r country, under all the
eun fiances of the caie, had a'ric'h't to t
and was tourd in intereft and cuty, tv 'r
a neutralpofrjon.- Wnvirg tr tsi it , '-' -c-termined,
as far as fhouid i ep-.-rd , n r : -.
to maintain it, with motlers:;cn; icf .o.
rince, rrd fsrntrci?."
lire cof fide rates wiili rMcecl th thf.
righ; '.to hold .this icrtir.cl, u iM b neteil airy oil
this ccci fion to "detail: I vill enfy bblerve,
that acccrcling to my undei ftanding bi the
matter,th?t fight, fo far from being denied
by any of the ;, belligerent PfcwerV, hdsbeen
;vii tually admitted by 1I;
1 -The dt ty cf holdinga neutralcbnc!ut may
be inferred, without anvthinrr n nr f.w
the-. obligation whichjuftice andhumahlity im;
pofe on etery nation, ;n cafes in which it is
free to act, .to maintain inviolate the relations
'The ir.ducements cf intereft fcf cbfervinff
that conduft will beft be referred to your bn
reflections and ppriDte. . With mej apfe
dominant motive Has beenr 't6 endeavour to
'gairi-.time to oucciintry to fettle and mature
its yet recer.infikatiocJs; nd. to progrefs
without inierrupncn, to that degree of con.
f flency, y. h:cH . is r ec efiary . to give it, hb.
.manely fpeaku g, the command of its own
fortunes.' :
; T hough in reviewing th- incidents of ray
adminiftratxn, lam unconfeicusoj intention
al crrcr, I nhnevertheiels tco fcnfiblc ofriiy
defects, ru t to think it probab;e. that ' I niay "
have cemmitted many err err. Whatever
they may be, I fervently befeech thealmiJh-'
ty to avert or mitigate . the evils to AvhTch
-they may tend. - J ihaHaho carry with &:e
the hcpe:that my country willnevei ceafe to
view themwiih rdulgerce ; and ihat after '
forty five years cf my lie dedicated & ksfer-