E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 107 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 148 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2002 No. 16 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2002, at 2 p.m. Senate MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2002 The Senate met at 12 noon and was I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the ests. Writing at a time before political called to order by the President pro United States of America, and to the Repub- parties had become accepted as vital tempore (Mr. BYRD). lic for which it stands, one nation under God, extraconstitutional, opinion-focusing indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. agencies, Washington feared that they PRAYER f carried the seeds of the nation’s de- The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME struction through petty factionalism. Although Washington was in no sense Ogilvie, offered the following prayer: The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the father of American isolationism, On this day when George Washing- the previous order, the leadership time since he recognized the necessity of ton’s Farewell Address is read, it is ap- is reserved. propriate that our prayer today be his temporary associations for ‘‘extraor- f ‘‘Prayer for the United States of Amer- dinary emergencies,’’ he did counsel ica,’’ exactly as it is preserved in the READING OF WASHINGTON’S against the establishment of ‘‘perma- chapel at Valley Forge. FAREWELL ADDRESS nent alliances with other countries,’’ connections that he warned would in- Let us pray. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under evitably be subversive of America’s na- ‘‘Almighty God; We make our earnest the previous order, the Senator from tional interest. prayer that Thou wilt keep the United New Jersey, Mr. CORZINE, is recognized States in Thy Holy protection; that Washington did not publicly deliver to read George Washington’s Farewell his Farewell Address. It first appeared Thou wilt incline the hearts of the Address. Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordi- on September 19, 1796, in the Philadel- Mr. CORZINE. In September 1796, phia Daily American Advertiser and nation and obedience to Government, worn out by burdens of the presidency then in papers around the country. and entertain a brotherly affection and and attacks of political foes, George In January 1862, with the Constitu- love for one another and for their fel- Washington announced his decision not tion endangered by civil war, a thou- low Citizens of the United States at to seek a third term. With the assist- sand citizens of Philadelphia petitioned large. ance of Alexander Hamilton and James Congress to commemorate the forth- ‘‘And finally that Thou wilt most Madison, Washington composed in a coming 130th anniversary of George graciously be pleased to dispose us all ‘‘Farewell Address’’ his political testa- Washington’s birth by providing that to do justice, to love mercy, and to de- ment to the nation. Designed to inspire ‘‘the Farewell Address of Washington mean ourselves with that Charity, hu- and guide future generations, the ad- be read aloud on the morning of that mility, and pacific temper of mind dress also set forth Washington’s de- day in one or the other of the Houses of which were the Characteristics of the fense of his administration’s record and Congress.’’ Both houses agreed and as- Divine Author of our blessed Religion, embodied a classic statement of Fed- sembled in the House of Representa- and without a humble imitation of eralist doctrine. tives’ chamber on February 22, 1862, whose example in these things we can Washington’s principal concern was where Secretary of the Senate John W. never hope to be a happy nation. for the safety of the eight-year-old Forney ‘‘rendered ‘The Farewell Ad- ‘‘Grant our supplication, we beseech Constitution. He believed that the sta- dress’ very effectively,’’ as one ob- Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. bility of the Republic was threatened server recalled. Amen.’’ by the forces of geographical sec- The practice of reading the Farewell f tionalism, political factionalism, and Address did not immediately become a interference by foreign powers in the tradition. The address was first read in PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE nation’s domestic affairs. He urged regular legislative sessions of the Sen- The PRESIDENT pro tempore led the Americans to subordinate sectional ate in 1888 and the House in 1899. (The Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: jealousies to common national inter- House continued the practice until ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S979 . VerDate 11-MAY-2000 01:32 Feb 26, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25FE6.000 pfrm01 PsN: S25PT1 S980 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 25, 2002 1984.) Since 1893 the Senate has ob- cumstances of our country you will not prehension of danger natural to that served Washington’s birthday by se- disapprove my determination to retire. solicitude, urge me on an occasion like lecting one of its members to read the The impressions with which I first the present to offer to your solemn Farewell Address. The assignment al- undertook the arduous trust were ex- contemplation, and to recommend to ternates between members of each po- plained on the proper occasion. In the your frequent review, some sentiments litical party. At the conclusion of each discharge of this trust, I will only say which are the result of much reflec- reading, the appointed senator in- that I have, with good intentions, con- tion, of no inconsiderable observation, scribes his or her name and brief re- tributed towards the organization and and which appear to me all important marks in a black, leather-bound book administration of the government the to the permanency of your felicity as a maintained by the secretary of the best exertions of which a very fallible people. These will be offered to you Senate. judgment was capable. Not unconscious with the more freedom as you can only The version of the address printed in the outset of the inferiority of my see in them the disinterested warnings here is taken from the original of the qualifications, experience, in my own of a parting friend, who can possibly final manuscript in the New York Pub- eyes, perhaps still more in the eyes of have no personal motive to bias his lic Library provided courtesy of The others, has strengthened the motives counsel. Nor can I forget, as an encour- Papers of George Washington. The only to diffidence of myself; and, every day, agement to it, your indulgent recep- changes have been to modernize spell- the increasing weight of years admon- tion of my sentiments on a former and ing, capitalization, and punctuation. ishes me more and more that the shade not dissimilar occasion. Mr. CORZINE, at the rostrum, read of retirement is as necessary to me as Interwoven as is the love of liberty the Farewell Address, as follows: it will be welcome. Satisfied that if with every ligament of your hearts, no To the people of the United States. any circumstances have given peculiar recommendation of mine is necessary FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS: The value to my services, they were tem- to fortify or confirm the attachment. period for a new election of a citizen to porary, I have the consolation to be- The unity of government which con- administer the executive government lieve that, while choice and prudence stitutes you one people is also now of the United States being not far dis- invite me to quit the political scene, dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a tant, and the time actually arrived patriotism does not forbid it. main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tran- when your thoughts must be employed In looking forward to the moment quility at home, your peace abroad, of in designating the person who is to be which is intended to terminate the ca- your safety, of your prosperity, of that clothed with that important trust, it reer of my political life, my feelings do very liberty which you so highly prize. appears to me proper, especially as it not permit me to suspend the deep ac- But as it is easy to foresee that, from may conduce to a more distinct expres- knowledgment of that debt of gratitude different causes and from different sion of the public voice, that I should which I owe to my beloved country for quarters, much pains will be taken, now apprise you of the resolution I the many honors it has conferred upon many artifices employed, to weaken in have formed, to decline being consid- me, still more for the steadfast con- your minds the conviction of this ered among the number of those out of fidence with which it has supported me truth; as this is the point in your polit- and for the opportunities I have thence whom a choice is to be made. ical fortress against which the bat- I beg you at the same time to do me enjoyed of manifesting my inviolable teries of internal and external enemies the justice to be assured, that this res- attachment by services faithful and will be most constantly and actively olution has not been taken without persevering, though in usefulness un- (though often covertly and insidiously) strict regard to all the considerations equal to my zeal. If benefits have re- directed, it is of infinite movement appertaining to the relation which sulted to our country from these serv- that you should properly estimate the ices, let it always be remembered to binds a dutiful citizen