George Washington's Farewell Address

He gave about a dozen things that we should remember if we want to stay on track.

This was so significant that up into the 20th century, students in school took a written exam on George Washington's farewell address once a year for all years they were in school.

Now, actually, they did that with four documents.

For once a year, up until the 20th century, when progressives got education, decided history wasn't significant, government wasn't significant, Students took a written exam once a year on the Constitution, on the Declaration, on the State Constitution, and on George Washington's Farewell Address.

Those were the four documents.

Every kid in America took a written exam on that every year for all their years of school.

This reading by Todd Cutler.

George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 Friends and Citizens The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed to decline being considered among the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made.

I beg you at the same time to do me the justice to be assured that this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen to his country, and that in withdrawing the tender of service which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with both.

The acceptance of and continuance hitherto in the office to which your suffragists have twice called me have been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty and to a deference for what appeared to be your desire.

I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence, and that, after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.

Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is so natural to a man who views it in the native soil of himself and his progenitors for several generations, I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever-favored object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

George Washington The end of Washington's Farewell Address

A FEW SANITARY SUGGESTIONS An extremely amiable, agreeable friend of ours, who from his infancy has been subject to measles, whooping cough, nettle rash, croup, erysipelas, neuralgia, rheumatism, sciatica, jigger, lockjaw, chiago, shortness of breath, carbuncle, tetor, lumbago, pneumonia delirium tremens toothache bronchitis catarrh salt-room chilblains inverted nails and depression of spirits told us a few days ago that he had partially got over several of these little troubles by following some plain rules found by him in an excellent publication entitled hall's journal of health it has long been our opinion that the american people as a nation do not take sufficient care of their health We are nationally, as all foreigners remark, addicted to reckless culture of muscle, regardless of the finer instincts which lead to the realization of large profits.

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For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The World's Famous Orations, Volume 8 Edited by William Jennings Bryan and Francis Whiting Halsey Section 17 George Washington His Farewell Address The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed to decline being considered among the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made.

I beg you at the same time to do me the justice to be assured that this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen to his country, and that, in withdrawing the tender of service, which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with both.

The acceptance of and continuance hitherto in the office to which your suffrages have twice called me have been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty and to a deference for what appeared to be your desire.

Jackson.

Part 2.

His Farewell Address.

1837.