To George Washington from John Adams
The Second Session of the fourth Congress. 1796
December the 12th 1796
According to appointment on Saturday, the Senate in a body waited upon the President at twelve Oclock, and the Vice President, delivered the following
Address To the President of the United States.
We thank you, Sir, for your faithful and detailed exposure of the existing situation of our Country; and we sincerely join in sentiments of gratitude to an overruling providence, for the distinguished share of public prosperity, and private happiness, which the People of the United States so peculiarly enjoy.
We are fully, sensible of the advantages that have resulted from the adoption of measures (which you have successfully carried into effect) to preserve peace, cultivate friendship, and promote civilization, amongst the Indian Tribes, on the Western frontiers; Feelings of humanity, and the most solid political interests, equally encourage the continuance of this System.
We observe with pleasure, that the delivery of the Military Posts, lately occupied by the British forces, within the territory of the United States, was made with cordiality, and promptitude, as soon as circumstances would admit; and that the other provisions of our Treaties with Great Britain and Spain, that were objects of eventual arrangement, are about being carried into effect, with entire harmony and good faith.
The unfortunate, but unavoidable difficulties, that opposed a timely compliance with the terms of the Algerine Treaty, are much to be lamented; as they may occasion a temporary suspension of the advantages to be derived, from a solid peace with that Power, and a perfect security, from its predatory warfare; at the same time, the lively impresssions that affected the Public mind, on the redemption of our Captive fellow Citizens, afford the most laudable incentive to our exertions, to remove the remaining obstacles.
We perfectly coincide with you in opinion, that the importance of our Commerce demands a Naval force for its protection against foreign insult and depredation, and our solicitude to attain that object will be always proportionate to its magnitude.
The necessity, of accelerating the establishment of certain useful Manufactures, by the intervention of Legislative aid and protection, and the encouragement due to Agriculture, by the creation of Boards, (composed of intelligent individuals,) to patronize this primary pursuit of society, are subjects, which will readily engage our most serious attention.
A National University may be converted to the most useful purposes; the science of Legislation, being so essentially dependent on the endowments of the mind, the public interests must receive effectual aid from the general diffusion of knowledge; and the United States will assume a more dignified Station, among the Nations of the Earth, by the successful cultivation of the higher branches of Literature.
A Military Academy may be likewise rendered equally important; to aid and direct the physical force of the Nation, by cherishing a Military spirit, enforcing a proper sense of discipline, and inculcating a scientific system of tactics, is consonant to the soundest maxims of public policy; Connected with, and supported by such an establishment, a well regulated Militia, constituting the natural defence of the Country, would prove the most effectual, as well oeconomical, preservative of peace.
We cannot but consider with serious apprehensions, the inadequate compensations of the public Officers, especially of those in the more important Stations; it is not only a violation of the spirit of a public contract; but is an evil so extensive in its operation, and so destructive in its consequences, that we trust it will receive the most pointed Legislative attention.
We sincerely lament, that whilst the conduct of the United States has been uniformly impressed with the character of equity, moderation, and love of peace, in the maintainance of all their foreign relationships; our trade should be so harrassed by the Cruizers and Agents of the Republic of France, throughout the extensive departments of the West Indies.
Whilst we are confident, that no cause of complaint exists, that could authorize an interruption of our tranquillity, or disengage that Republic from the bonds of Amity, cemented by the faith of Treaties, we cannot but express our deepest regrets, that official communications have been made to you, indicating a more serious disturbance of our commerce; although we cherish the expectation that a sense of justice and a consideration of our mutual interests, will moderate their councils; We are not unmindful of the situation, in which events may place us, nor unprepared to adopt that system of conduct, which, compatible with the dignity of a respectable Nation, necessity may compel us to pursue.
We cordially acquiesce in the reflection, that the United States, under the operation of the Federal Government, have experienced a most rapid aggrandizement and prosperity, as well political, as commercial.
Whilst contemplating the causes that produce this auspicious result, we must acknowledge the excellence of the constitutional system, and the wisdom of the legislative provisions; but we should be deficient in gratitude and justice, did we not attribute a great portion of these advantages, to the virtue, firmness, and talents of Your Administration; which have been conspiciously displayed, in the most trying times, and on the most critical occasions. It is therefore, with the sincerest regrets, that we now receive an Official notification of Your intentions to retire from the public employments of Your Country.
When we review the various scenes of your public life, so long and so successfully, devoted to the most arduous services, civil and Military; as well, during the struggles of the American Revolution, as the convulsive periods of a recent date, we cannot look forward to Your retirement, without our warmest affections and most anxious regards acccompanying You; and without mingling with our fellow Citizens at large, in the sincerest wishes for Your personal happiness, that sensibility and attachment can express.
The most effectual consolation that can offer for the loss we are about to sustain, arises from the animating reflection, that the influence of Your example will extend to Your successors, and the United States thus continue to enjoy, an able, upright, and energetic administration.
John Adams
Vice President of the United
States, and President of the
Senate
To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton
In conformity, to the Appointment made Yesterday The House of Representatives waited on the President this day at two Oclock, and the Speaker thereof delivered the following Address.
December the 16th 1796
Sir,
The House of Representatives have attended to your communication respecting the state of our Country, with all the sensibility that the contemplation of the subject, and a sense of duty can inspire.
We are gratified by the information, that measure calculated to ensure a continuance of the friendship of the Indians, and to maintain the tranquility of the Western frontier, have been adopted; and we indulge the hope that these, by impressing the Indian Tribes with more correct conceptions of the justice, as well as power of the United States, will be attended with success.
While we notice, with satisfaction, the steps that You have taken in pursuance of the late Treaties with several foreign Nations, the liberation of our Citizens, who were prisoners at Algiers, is a subject of peculiar felicitation. We shall cheerfully cooperate in any further measures that shall appear, on consideration, to be requisite.
We have ever concurred with you in the most sincere and uniform disposition to preserve our neutral relations inviolate; and it is, of course, with anxiety and deep regret we hear, that any interruption of our harmony with the French Republic has occurred, for we feel with You and with our Constituents, the cordial and unabated wish to maintain a perfectly friendly understanding with that Nation. Your endeavours to fulfil that wish, and by all honorable means to preserve peace, and to restore that harmony and affection which have heretofore so happily subsisted between the French Republic and the United States, cannot fail, therefore, to interest our attention. And while we participate in the full reliance You have expressed on the patriotism, self-respect and fortitude of our Countrymen, we cherish the pleasing hope, that a mutual spirit of justice and moderation will ensure the success of Your perseverance.
The various subjects of Your communication will, respectively, meet with the attention that is due to their importance.
When we advert to the internal situation of the United States, we deem it equally natural and becoming to compare the present period with that immediately antecedent to the operation of the Government, and to contrast it with the calamities in which the state of War still involves several of the European Nations, as the reflections deduced from both tend to justify, as well as to excite, a warmer admiration of our free consitution, and to exalt our minds to a more fervent and grateful sense of piety towards Almighty God for the beneficence of his providence, by which its administration has been hitherto so remarkably distinguished.
And while we entertain a grateful conviction that Your wise, firm and patriotic Administration has been signally conducive to the success of the present form of Government, we cannot for bear to express the deep sensations of regret with which we contemplate Your intended retirement from Office.
As no other suitable occasion may occur, we cannot suffer the present to pass without attempting to disclose some of the emotions which it cannot fail to awaken.
The gratitude and Admiration of Your Countrymen are still drawn to the recollection of those resplendent virtues and talents which were so eminently instrumental to the atchievement of the revolution, and of which that glorious event will ever be the memorial. Your obedience to the voice of duty and Your Country, when you quitted reluctantly, a second time, the retreat You had chosen, and first accepted the Presidency, afforded a new proof of the devotedness of Your zeal in its service, and an earnest of the partiotism and success which have characterized Your administration. As the grateful confidence of the Citizens in the virtues of their chief Magistrate, has essentially contributed to that success, we persuade ourselves that the millions whom we represent, participate with us in the anxious solicitude of the present occasion.
Yet we cannot be unmindful that Your moderation and magnanimity, twice displayed by retiring from your exalted stations, afford examples no less rare and instructive to mankind, than valuable to a Republic.
Although we are sensible that this event, of itself, completes the lustre of a character already conspicously unrivalled by the coincidence of virtue, talents, success and public estimation; Yet we conceive we owe it to You, Sir, and still more emphatically to ourselves and to our nation, (of the language of whose hearts we presume to think ourselves, at this moment, the faithful interpreters) to express the sentiments with which it is contemplated.
The spectacle of a free and enlightened nation offering by its Representatives the tribute of unfeigned approbation to its first Citizen, however novel and interesting it may be, derives all its lustre (a lustre which accident or enthusiasm could not bestow, and which adulation would tarnish) from the transcendant merit of which it is the voluntary testimony.
May You long enjoy that liberty which is so dear to You, and to which Your name will ever be so dear: May Your own Virtues and a Nation’s prayers obtain the happiest Sunshine for the decline of Your days, and the choicest of future blessings. For our Country’s sake; for the sake of republican liberty, it is our earnest wish that Your example may be the guide of Your successors; and thus, after being the ornament and safe-guard of the present age, become the partimony of our descendants.
Signed by order, and in behalf of the House,
Jonathan Dayton Speaker.
(Attest) John Beckley—Clerk.
Comments