A History of the American People

This is a very strong statement of the moral obligations of all citizens to comply with the
decisions of duly constituted government, enforcing the laws constitutionally enacted by
Congress. It was a solemn reminder by Washington, as the result of eight years' experience as
chief executive, that America was a country under the rule of law. With the law, it was
everything; without the law, it was nothing. And it was well that Washington made it in such
forceful terms. Future presidents were able to take courage from it when dealing with powerful
acts of defiance-Andrew Jackson when confronted with South Carolina's claim to the right to
nullify federal law and Abraham Lincoln when faced with the unconstitutional act of secession
by the South. The statement was typical of Washington's understanding of American
government-its range was severely limited but, within those limits, its claims (under God) were
absolute.
Second, Washington stressed the wisdom of keeping clear of foreign entanglements. He was
proud of the fact that he had kept the United States out of the great war engulfing Europe, though
under pressure from both sides to join in. America must seek harmony' andliberal intercourse'
with all nations. It must trade with all on terms of equality. It must maintain a respectable defensive posture,' underwrittenby suitable establishments' (of force). It might form temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.' But in general the United States must pursue its global course with friendship-if reciprocated-to all, enmity and alliance with none. Isolation? Not at all. Independence-yes. Finally, Washington-in the light of the dreadful events which had occurred in Revolutionary France-wished to dispel for good any notion that America was a secular state. It was a government of laws but it was also a government of morals.Of all the dispositions and habits
which led to political prosperity,' he insisted, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.' Anyone who tried to underminethese firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens' was the
very opposite of a patriot. There can be no security for property, for reputation, for life if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in the Courts of Justice.' Nor can morality be maintained without religion. Whateverrefined education'
alone can do for minds of peculiar structure'-he was thinking of Jefferson no doubt-all experience showed thatnational morality' cannot prevail exclusion of religious principle.' In
effect, Washington was saying that America, being a free republic, dependent for its order on the
good behavior of its citizens, cannot survive without religion. And that was in the nature of
things. For Washington felt, like most Americans, that his country was in a sense chosen and
favored and blessed. Hence he would carry to the grave' hisunceasing vows' that `Heaven may
continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence-that your Union and brotherly affection
may be perpetual-and that the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be
sacredly maintained.'
The whole stress of Washington's presidency, underlined by his farewell, was on the absolute
necessity to obey the Constitution. As he said on many occasions, he did not seek or want any
more power than the Constitution gave him; but, when needful, he did not want any less either. It
should be obeyed in letter and spirit. America was the first major country to adopt a written
constitution. That Constitution has survived. where so many imitations all over the world have
failed, not my because it was democratically constructed and freely adopted by the people, but
precisely because it has been obeyed-by both government and people. All kinds of paper
constitutions have been drawn up, perfect in design and detail-the Constitution of the Soviet
Union is the classic example-but have become nugatory because the government has not obeyed
them and the people have therefore lost faith in their reality. Washington insisted that the