PRESIDENT GEORGE

WASHINGTON: FAREWELL
ADDRESS (1796)

Jeremy Lerwill
HISTORY 1700 Fall 2017
 I believe that President George Washingtons farewell address was more than a

way for him to express his love and hope for a fledgling nation. More than just a warning

of trials and possible misdeeds that could be avoided. He was a deeply moral man, who

had a relationship with his God. I believe that he was inspired by his earthly advisors, as

well as his spiritual connection. Did his faith temper his politics? Did it humble him to

warn his fellow citizens at a level they would understand? I believe that the farewell is a

collaboration between the four of them, Hamilton, Adams, Washington and God.

I walk on untrodden ground This phrase was often spoken by General George

Washington leading up to his inauguration as President of the United States. The world

was full of dictators and monarchies and he was to be a President, not only the first for

our nation, but also the first for any nation. His shoulders heavy laden with concerns that

he might not forge the right path forward for what a President should be. If he were to fail

the organization of the presidency, would the still fragile government fail as well? This

worry went into everything he did, every decision was weighed and calculated, even to

details of what to wear. He could not be too dressy like an aristocrat and not gaudy like a

monarch, and though he is the commander in chief no uniform was to be worn, just

simple suits with just enough flair. April 30, 1789 George Washington becomes the first

President, and starts, as he might say, down that untrodden path.

The first draft of Washingtons letter was written in June of 1792 with the help of

James Madison, in preparation for the end to his first term. He was finding himself in

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great personal turmoil, worried again about the failing of the government if he were to

leave office at that time. Through persuasions of advisors and I imagine much prayer, he

set aside his letter, and was unanimously voted in and inaugurated as President February

13th, 1793. Not long into the second term, he realized just how important it was for him to

have stayed. Though the whisky tariff was enacted in 1791 it wasnt until 1794 that

Washington put back on his Generals uniform and led 13,000 men to qualm a small

rebellion. France and Britain go to war in the following years as well, placing strain on

budding treaties and governmental support, trying to pull America in to another war.

Britain due to our economic agreements and the United States need for commerce, and

France wanting reciprocity for their assistance in our war of independence not so many

years before. He saw how our nation could be still so easily swayed by divisions of

opinion such as the tariff, and just how many webs can and were strung by those wanting

or claiming to be nation friend or ally.

John Adams assisted to write the rough draft, though it was Alexander Hamilton

which helped him to finish it. It was not a small letter by any means. The Declaration of

Independence was 1400 words in length, the Constitution being 4500. This farewell letter

from Washington had to be precise and express completely his joy and fears about this

new nation. It is 6100 eloquent and poetic words that are still so inspiring. Washington

was a precise leader who wanted no misgivings or misunderstandings. He had great love

for his fellow citizens, and for this new nation. He cherished the Constitution, believed in

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and acknowledged God and his handiwork in the framing of it. Wanted to warn of envy

and how it dissolves liberty and freedom. Encourage unity rather than division with

political parties and the sides that would be taken in each. His dire concern for potential

selfish ambitions of those parties and leaders and how easily they can be influenced by

foreign entities. That religion, morality, virtue and freedom work only when used in

conjunction.

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and

morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of

patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these

firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the

pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their

connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security

for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths

which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution

indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may

be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason

and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of

religious principle

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 There would be no national religion, as there had been in other nations.

Protections were in place to prevent that from happening. It although was his belief that

the American people, to make freedom and liberty truly work, needed to be a moral and

religious people. Six months prior to the end of his presidency. He had such faith that

God s hand was in the framing of the Constitution, that he released this farewell letter on

its signing anniversary. Then General Washington, was the chief presiding officer over

the Constitutional Convention September 17th, 1787. Washington often spoke of God,

morality, providence and greater good, and his belief that all were essential for the

Constitutions existence. He did not seem to attend a regular church or sect, which makes

me wonder, that if he was so concerned of what a President was, and how he was to be

seen, and of his total faith in the Constitution, that maybe that was just another of his

calculations. He would attend many different churches as he would travel, sometimes

going as much as 3 times per Sunday, though at home he would attend only a few times a

month. He wanted the people to be religious and moral, and with him in such a spot light

of his celebrity as the revolution general and now president, maybe he didnt want to

sway anyone into any one religion, just wanting to set a moral example.

By releasing the farewell six months before his term ended, he was able to

moderate a smooth transition for the next leader, not so much for Adams but for the

people. He sent it to David C. Claypooles American Daily Advertiser, and soon after

was being reprinted across the nation, it was titled The Address of General Washington

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to the People of The United States on his declining of the Presidency of the United

States. At the time there were no term limits as we have today, thus he made the

powerful case that the President is there to serve and should only do so for a small

amount of time as needed by the nation, by way of two terms. He humbly respected that

the population wanted to keep him in office, but that he believed that the mantle needed

to be passed on. There are many historians that believe and argue that it was his refusal to

stand for a third term as the precedent to shape the 22nd amendment.

His humility is evident in his desire for forgiveness for his faults and failures in

office, that they were his through his own weaknesses and not purposeful. He wasnt

expecting that the advice he was giving would make such an impression or shape the

future of the nation. He simply wished to be a guiding friend, almost a like a father

figure. Little did he know that the document would have so much importance, even now,

in our day. Tennessee Senator Andrew Johnson introduced the petition in the Senate. In

view of the perilous condition of the country he said, I think the time has arrived when

we should recur back to the days, the times, and the doings of Washington and the

patriots of the Revolution who founded the government under which we live. During the

darkest days of the nation, the American Civil war. February 22nd, 1862 the words of his

farewell were read in the House of Representatives to lift spirits and give a reminder of

our nations purpose, and since then has continued to be read each year in the Senate. It is

now considered to be one our nations most precious documents.

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 I fully believe that Washington was protected, inspired and guided by so much

more than just other great men. There were many great men at that time, but how many

could have tempered themselves, humbled themselves to become what was needed in a

President. How much wisdom, courage and strength it would take not to be swayed one

way or the other by his trusted friends and patriots. His example, even just in this

document, makes me wish leaders of our time could be more inspired by him and find a

way to follow him and his vision more closely. So much has changed since his time. He

was right. And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be

maintained without religion. It is now as the people of this nation, of this world move

away from morality that we lose sight of what liberties and freedoms come with it.

Morality is often tied to religion, the base and standard of almost all religion. We would

be wiser, safer as a people if we could take his words to heart. So much political, racial,

cultural division could wash away if we could follow his humble example. I hope to one

day, be even an inkling of the man he was.