Charles Carroll (September 19, 1737-November 14, 1832) was a member of the Continental Congress and one of the first signers of the Declaration of Independence. Born at Annapolis, Maryland, he became one of the richest men in the Colonies. Charles, who outlived all the other signers, made many daring speeches and greatly supported the patriot cause with his finances. When he signed his name to the Declaration, someone commented that there were many men with the name "Charles Carroll" and that the British would not know which one was him. He at once added "of Carrollton," and was known by that title ever since.
On November 4, 1800, in a letter to James McHenry, Charles Carroll, stated:
<Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure [and] which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.> 1737CC001
On April 23, 1820, in a letter to Robert Goodloe, Charles Carroll, who was a member of a society to end slavery, stated:
<Why keep alive the question of slavery? It is admitted by all to be a great evil.> 1737CC002
On September 27, 1825, in a letter to Charles W. Wharton, Esq., written from Doughoragen, Maryland, Charles Carroll stated:
<On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.> 1737CC003
On October 9, 1827, in a letter to the Rev. John Stanford, Charles Carroll, who was a Roman Catholic, stated:
<To obtain religious, as well as civil, liberty I entered zealously into the Revolution, and observing the Christian religion divided into many sects, I founded the hope that no one would be so predominant as to become the religion of the State. That hope was thus early entertained, because all of them joined in the same cause, with few exceptions of individuals. God grant that this religious liberty may be preserved in these States, to the end of time, and that all believing in the religion of Christ may practice the leading principle of charity, the basis of every virtue.> 1737CC004
On February 20, 1829, Charles Carroll wrote from Baltimore to George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of General George Washington, who was President of the 'Society of Friends of Civil and Religious Liberty in Ireland,' as recorded in the National Gazette, Philadelphia, February 26, 1829:
<When I signed the Declaration of Independence I had in view not only our independence from England but the toleration of all sects professing the Christian religion and communicating to them all great rights. Happily this wise and salutary measure has taken place for eradicating religious feuds and persecution and become a useful lesson to all governments. Reflecting, as you must, on the disabilities, I may truly say, of the proscription of the Roman Catholics in Maryland, you will not be surprised that I had much at heart, this grand design founded on mutual charity, the basis of our holy religion.> 1737CC005
--
American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1737CC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Charles Carroll, November 4, 1800, in a letter to James McHenry. Bernard C. Steiner, The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry (Cleveland: The Burrows Brothers, 1907), 475. Cathy Adams, "The Faith of Our Founding Fathers-A Tribute to Our Country's Foundation" (Dallas, TX: Texas Eagle Forum, P.O. Box 872098, 75287; 214-250-0734, 214-380-2853 Fax), Vol. 2, No. 6, p. 1.
1737CC002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Charles Carroll, April 23, 1820, in a letter to Robert Goodloe. Kate Mason Rowland, Life and Correspondence of Charles Carroll of Carrollton (New York & London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1898), Vol. II, p. 321.
1737CC003 William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014).. Charles Carroll, September 27, 1825, in an autographed letter to Charles W. Wharton, Esq., written from Doughoragen, Maryland.
1737CC004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Charles Carroll, October 9, 1827, in a letter to the Rev. John Stanford. Kate Mason Rowland, The Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 1737-1832, With His Correspondence and Public Papers (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1898), Vol. II, pp. 357-358.
1737CC005. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Charles Carroll, February 20, 1829, in a letter written from Baltimore, MD, to George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of General George Washington, President of the 'Society of Friends of Civil and Religious Liberty in Ireland,' recorded in the National Gazette, Philadelphia, February 26, 1829.