Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy holy protection.

To secure respect to a neutral flag requires a naval force organized and ready to vindicate it from insult or aggression.

The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they pass unobserved.

Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But even our Commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand: neither seeking nor granting exclusive favours or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of Commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing with Powers so disposed; in order to give trade a stable course.

[Avoid] likewise the accumulation of debt.

To the efficacy and permanency of your union a government for the whole is indispensable.

The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism . . .