American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

United States Congress (August 7, 1789) in "An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio," later shortened to the Northwest Ordinance, Article VI, prohibited slavery within the territory that was to become the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and the eastern part of Minnesota. It was signed into law by President George Washington; after having been introduced into Congress by Rufus King, a signer of the Constitution; receiving House approval, July 21, 1789; and receiving Senate approval, August 4, 1789. This was the same period that Congress was formulating...

William Jay (June 16, 1789-October 14, 1858) was the son of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the father of John Jay, the influential diplomat. He was a successful attorney, author and judge in Westchester County, New York. William Jay took the unpopular and politically incorrect stance of opposing slavery, and, in 1833, helped found the New York City Anti-Slavery Society. He was a founder of the American Bible Society, 1816, and served as the director of the American Tract Society. William Jay wrote several books against slavery, including: American Anti-Slavery Societies, 1835; Miscellaneous Writings on...

United States Congress (May 18, 1789) the U.S. Senate delivered the following address to President George Washington and Vice-President John Adams: <We, the Senate of the United States, return you our sincere thanks for your excellent speech delivered to both Houses of Congress.... We are, with you, unavoidably led to acknowledge and adore the Great Arbiter of the universe, by whom empires rise and fall. A review of the many signal instances of divine interposition in favor of this country, claims our most pious gratitude; and permit us, sir, to observe, that, among the great events which have led to...

United States Congress (May 8, 1789) the U.S. House of Representatives delivered the following address to President George Washington: <The Representatives of the People of the United States present their congratulations on the event by which your fellow-citizens have attested the pre- eminence of your merit. You have long held the first place in their esteem.... We feel with you the strongest obligations to adore the Invisible Hand which has led the American People through so many difficulties, to cherish a conscious responsibility for the destiny of republican liberty; and to seek the only sure means of preserving and recommending...

United States Congress (May 1, 1789) elected the Reverend William Linn, a Presbyterian minister from New York City, as the first chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, appropriating $500.00 dollars from the Federal treasury to pay his salary. In addition to opening Congressional sessions with prayers, House Chaplains regularly held Christian services in the Capitol House Chambers every Sunday. In 1860, Rabbi Morris Jacob Raphall was the first Jewish clergyman invited to open a House session with prayer. Both the House and the Senate have continued to regularly open every session with prayer. On March 23, 2000, The Reverend...