elation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my Proclamation
of the twenty-second of April, 1793, is the index to my Plan.
Sanctioned by your approving voice, and by that of your
representatives in both houses of Congress, the spirit of that
measure has continually governed me, uninfluenced by any attempts
to deter or divert me from it. After deliberate examination, with
the aid of the best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied
that our country, under all the circumstances of the case, had a
right to take, and was bound in duty and interest to take, a
neutral position. Having taken it, I determined, as far as should
depend upon me, to maintain it, with moderation, perseverance, and
firmness.

"The considerations, which respects the right to hold this conduct,
it is not necessary, on this occasion, to detail. I will only
observe, that, according to my understanding of the matter, that
right, so far from being denied by any of the Belligerent Powers,
has been virtually admitted by all. The duty of holding a neutral
conduct may be inferred, without anything more, from the obligation
which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in
which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of
peace and amity toward other nations. The inducements of interest
for observing that conduct will best be referred to your own
reflection and experience. With me, a predominant motive has been
to endeavor to gain time to our country to settle and mature its
yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption to
that degree of strength and consistency which is necessary to give
it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.

"Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am
unconscious of intentional error: I am, nevertheless, too sensible
of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed
many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty
to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. 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 th