of liberty to independence and peace, to increasing wealth and
unexampled prosperity, has merited the gratitude of his
fellow-citizens, commanded the highest praises of foreign nations, and
secured immortal glory with posterity.

In that retirement which is his voluntary choice may he long live to
enjoy the delicious recollection of his services, the gratitude of
mankind, the happy fruits of them to himself and the world, which are
daily increasing, and that splendid prospect of the future fortunes of
this country which is opening from year to year. His name may be still
a rampart, and the knowledge that he lives a bulwark, against all open
or secret enemies of his country's peace. This example has been
recommended to the imitation of his successors by both Houses of
Congress and by the voice of the legislatures and the people throughout
the nation.

On this subject it might become me better to be silent or to speak with
diffidence; but as something may be expected, the occasion, I hope,
will be admitted as an apology if I venture to say that if a
preference, upon principle, of a free republican government, formed
upon long and serious reflection, after a diligent and impartial
inquiry after truth; if an attachment to the Constitution of the United
States, and a conscientious determination to support it until it shall
be altered by the judgments and wishes of the people, expressed in the
mode prescribed in it; if a respectful attention to the constitutions
of the individual States and a constant caution and delicacy toward the
State governments; if an equal and impartial regard to the rights,
interest, honor, and happiness of all the States in the Union, without
preference or regard to a northern or southern, an eastern or western,
position, their various political opinions on unessential points or