general sentiment of approbation expressed by my country cannot fail to produce, I derive from it, as a citizen of the United States, the greatest pleasure; as it authorizes the conclusion, that the important measures of their government have been calculated to promote their true and permanent interests, which are inseparably connected with rectitude of principle, and impartial justice to other nations. You will have the goodness to communicate to the House of Representatives these sentiments, with my sincere acknowledgments for the marks of attention with which they have honored me. Your individual and affectionate solicitude for my happiness is entitled to my cordial thanks. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA; IN A LETTER TO SAMUEL ASHE, GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA. JANUARY 25TH, 1797. SIR, I have received your very friendly letter of the 30th of last month, covering the address of the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. The sentiments expressed by the General Assembly, and their testimony of the usefulness of my public services, while honorable and grateful to me personally, I value still more as a citizen of the country to whose freedom and prosperity those services have been devoted. The continuance of these blessings will depend on the virtue, fortitude, and union of its citizens; and, as the exercise of these qualities is essential to our safety and happiness, so I trust they will be displayed. My highest gratification, during the remainder of my life, will be to participate in the national prosperity; and, in my retirement, the kind wishes and affectionate attachment of my fellow-citizens will be among my most pleasing recollections. I must pray you to communicate these sentiments to the General Assembly, with my cordial acknowledgments for their Address, and to accept yourself my thanks for the obliging expressions, which accompanied its transmission to me. I am, &c. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. GENTLEMEN, JANUARY, 1797. I received with great pleasure the expressions of your approbation of my services. The general marks of satisfaction, and the various testimonies of select and discerning bodies of men among my fellow-citizens, respecting my public conduct, while they have stimulated my exertions to be useful to my country, the sole object of all my aims and wishes, have also enforced the justness of your remark, that the most effectual method of securing the confidence, and accomplishing the welfare, of an enlightened nation, is to pursue, with undeviating firmness, a policy founded in pure integrity. And I shall be pardoned when I add, that conscious integrity has been my unceasing support; and, while it gave me confidence in the measures I pursued, the belief of it, by acquiring to me the confidence of my fellow-citizens, insured the success which they have had. This consciousness will accompany me in my retirement. Without it public applause could be viewed only as a proof of public error, and felt as the upbraiding of personal demerit. In this retirement, to behold the national felicity will be largely to partake in it; and if, with this felicity, I enjoy health, which you kindly wish me, my hopes in this world will be consummated. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FEBRUARY 2D, 1797. miet GENTLEMEN, I receive with great satisfaction the Addresses of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Delaware, which you have now presented to me, on the occasion of my contemplated retirement from the Presidency of the United States. These evidences of their affection, and testimonies that my public services have been useful to my country, will ever be dear to me. If, yielding to the calls of my fellow-citizens, I have renounced the ease and enjoyments of private life, to encounter the dangers and difficulties of the first and most arduous employments, it was because the sacrifices, on my part, were by them deemed interesting to their safety and welfare. Animated by such motives, and supported by the general spirit and patriotism of my countrymen, when the objects of my public agency were attained, nought remained to me but to seek again the private station, which their partiality and confidence required me for a time to relinquish. In this chosen retirement, the approving voice of my country will ever be a subject of grateful recollections, while I behold its increasing prosperity, under the influence of the same public spirit, energy, justice, and moderation, in which its independence, character, and credit have been founded. That such may be the fruit of our labors, and such the happy progress of our republic, is, and ever will be, the object of my ardent wishes. These sentiments, Gentlemen, with my grateful acknowledgments to the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Delaware, I pray you to communicate to them in such a manner as you shall deem proper. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. GENTLEMEN, FEBRUARY, 1797. Supported by the patriotic exertions and pleasing approbation of my fellow-citizens, for a long series of years, in important, critical, and highly interesting situations, I have discharged my duties with that satisfaction to myself, which could only result from those circumstances. And when, in the decline of life, I gratify the fond wish of my heart in retiring from public labors, and find the language of approbation and fervent prayers for future happiness following that event, my heart expands with gratitude, and my feelings become unutterable. But, in full confidence that, under the wise, firm, and patriotic conduct of those, who administer our public affairs, the prosperity, hap VOL. XII. 31 U piness, and respectability of our country will be no less an object, than they have heretofore been, I feel a peculiar satisfaction. If the sentiments, which I expressed on the eve of my retirement from public life, meet the approbation of my countrymen, I must feel highly gratified; for they were the pure sentiments of my heart, founded on the experience, which I had in life, and matured by the best reflection I could give them. Although guided by our excellent constitution in the discharge of official duties, and actuated, through the whole course of my public life, solely by a wish to promote the best interests of our country; yet, without the beneficent interposition of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, we could not have reached the distinguished situation which we have attained. with such unprecedented rapidity. To Him, therefore, should we bow with gratitude and reverence, and endeavour to merit a continuance of his special favors. Deeply and gratefully impressed by your affectionate addresses and benevolent wishes, I shall not fail to supplicate the throne of grace, that the best of Heaven's blessings may rest upon your State and upon yourselves individually. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF PENNSYLVANIA. FEBRUARY 17TH, 1797. GENTLEMEN, The kindness of my fellow-citizens has given me frequent occasion to make my acknowledgments for |
