them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
That life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness could not be realized without God in our republic. George Washington spoke for all Americans in his first inaugural address, that “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than . . . the United States.”
“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Our nation’s survival and prosperity in the future were understood to be dependent upon faith. When Washington left office in the most remarkable, peaceful transfer of power the world had seen, he warned of a future that somehow supposed that we could have order and prosperity without faith. In his last address to the nation, he declared:
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to the political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that men claim the tribute of patriotism, who would subvert the great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them. And let us with caution indulge in the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.
None of the founders of this country believed that a governmental connection to religion was an evil in itself. They opposed the establishment of a national religion because it could prohibit the free exercise of faith but that faith would and should be freely exercised. This
© 2016 by the Association of Christian Schools International
same foundational belief extended to a prohibition of a national press so that … people could speak and assemble freely, and that their grievance would not only become known, but redressed. This was embodied in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
The framers of our Constitution understood that restriction on religious conduct should not be from application of general laws but, rather, should be applied to those laws that target religion. Laws that “substantially burden” religion, even if they are generally applicable, must be justified as the “least restrictive means” of achieving a “compelling interest.”
The same day the Bill of Rights was introduced, July 13, 1787, this Congress also introduced the Northwest Ordinance that laid guidelines and instruction on new territory … Article 3 of that Ordinance stated: “Religion, and morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged.”
“Forever be encouraged.”
Some in this body today, Madam Speaker, would believe forever stops in 2016 and should have stopped much sooner. They claim that Congress grants these unalienable rights and uses the powers of the government, without the consent of the governed, to regulate and diminish faith and eliminate it from public life.
In 1798, in response to the claim that Congress could regulate First Amendment freedoms without abridging them, James Madison condemned it, saying: the liberty of conscience and the freedom of the press were completely exempted from all congressional authority whatever.
Every constitution of our thirteen original states, and all thereafter following their example, understood this and embodied such language in their State constitutions, which survive today. [Rep. Russell quotes from the Constitutions of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia.]
These constitutions are still in effect in each of these states today. All speak of the exceptions on maintaining the peace and safety of each state.
Forever—forever—be encouraged.
That is the way it was phrased. Is that where we stand today? Shall religious freedom, the hallmark of Columbia’s shores, continue to be forever encouraged or do we who are so humbly honored to serve in these chambers now just step aside and see the indispensable supports of religion and morality knocked from under our foundation?
Madam Speaker, I cannot be silent.
Since I was 18 years of age, I have pledged to support and defend the Constitution of this great republic. I have been moved by conscience and dictates to speak
27.2 | 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24
