
1796] 
morality is aneceffary {pring of popular go- 
vernment. The rule, indeed, extends with 
more or lefs force to every fpecies of free 
government. Who, that isa fincere friend 
to it, canlook with indifference upon at- 
tempts to fhake the foundation of the fa- 
bric 2. 
Promote, then, as.an objeét of primary 
Importance, inftitutions for the general 
diffufion of knowledge. In proportion as 
the ftruéture of Government gives force 
_to public opinion, it is efential that public 
opinion fhould be enlightened. 
/As avery important. fource of ftrencth 
and fecurity, cherifh public credit. One 
method of preferving it is to ufe it as fpar- 
ingly as potfible ; avoidiny occafions of ex- 
pence by cultivating peace, but remember- 
ing alfo that timely difburfements, to pre- 
pare for danger, frequently prevent mach 
greater difburfements to repel it; avoiding 
dikewife the accumulation of debt, not 
only by fhunning occafions of expence, but 
y vigorous exertions in time of peace to 
difcharge the debts which unavoidable wars 
may have occafioned, not ungeneroufly 
throwing upon pofterity the burthen which 
we ourfelves ought to bear., The execu- 
tion of thefe maxims belongs to your Re- 
prefentatives, but it is neceflary that 
public opinion fhould co-operate, To f3- 
cilitate to them the performance of their 
duty, it is effential that you fhould prac- 
tically bear in mind, that towards the pay- 
ment of debts there muft be a revenue; 
that to havea revenue there mutt be taxes 3 
that no taxes can be deviled which are not 
more or lefs inconvenient and unpleafant: 
that the intrinfic embarraflment infeparable 
from the fele€tion of the. proper objects 
(which is always a choice of difficulties) 
ought to be a decifive motive for a*candid 
conftruction of the conduét of the Govera- 
ment in making it, and for a {pirit of ac- 
quiefcence in the meafures for obtaining 
Revenue, which the public exigences may 
at any time dictate. 
Obferve good faith and juftice towards 
all nations ; cultivate peace and harmony 
with all. Religion and Morality enjoin 
this conduét ; and can it be that good po- 
_licy does not equally enjoin it? It will be 
worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no 
‘great diftant period, a great nation, to give 
to mankind the magnanimous, and too 
novel, example of a people always guided 
by an exalted juftice and benevolence. 
Who can doubt that in the courfe of time 
and things the fruits of fuch a plan would 
xichly repay any temporary advantages 
Addrefs of Prefident Wa/fhington. 
$21 
which might be loft by a fteady adherence 
to it? Can it be, that Providence bas not 
connected the permanent felicity of a na- 
tion with its virtue? Phe experiment, at 
leaft, is recommended by every fentiment 
which ennobles human nature. Alas! is 
it rendered impoffible by its vices ? 
In the execution of fuch a pian, nothing 
is More effentia! than that permanent, in- 
veterate antipathies againit particular na- 
tions, and paflionate attachments for others, 
thould be excluded; and that in place of 
them, juft and amicabie feelings towards 
all thould be cultivated. The nation which 
indulges towards another an habitual 
hatred, or an habitual fondnefs, is in fome 
degree a flave. Itis a flave to its animofi- 
fy or to its affection, either of which is 
fufficient to lead it aftray from its duty 
and its intereft. Antipathy in one nation 
againft another dilpofes each more readily 
to offer infulr and injury, to lay hold of 
flight caufes of umbrage, and to be haugh- 
ty and intractable, when accidental - or’ 
trifling occafions of difpute occur. Hence 
frequent collifions ; obftinate, envemoned, 
and bloody contefts. The nation, prompted 
by ill-will and refentment, fometimes im- 
pels to war‘the government, contrary to 
the. bef calculations of policy. ‘The go- 
-veroment fometimes participates in the 
national propenfity, and adopts through 
pation what reafon would rejeét; at other 
times it makes the animofity of the nation 
fubfervient to projects of hoftility, infti- 
gated by pride, ambition, and other finifter 
and pernicious motives.—T he peace often, 
fometimes perhaps the liberty of nations, 
has been the victim. 
So, likewife, a paffionate attachment of 
one nation for another produces a variety 
of evils. Sympathy for the favourite na- 
tion, facilitating the illufion of an (ima- 
ginary commion intereft, in cafes where 
no real common intereft exifts, and infuf- 
ing into one the enmities of the other, bes 
trays the former into a participation in the 
quarrels and wars of the latter, without 
adequate inducement or juftification. It 
leads alfo to conceffions to the favourite 
nation of privileges denied to others, 
which is apt doubly to injure the nation 
making the conceilions; by unneceilarily 
parting with what ought to have been 
retained ; and by exciting jealoufy, ill- 
‘will, and a difpofition to retaliate, in-the 
parties from whom equal privileges are 
witaheld ; and it gives to ambitious, cor- 
rupted, or deluded citizens (who devote 
themfelves to the favourite nation) facility 
5 Ma te 
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