American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Province of West New Jersey (November 25, 1681): <Forasmuch as it hath pleased God, to bring us into this Province of West New Jersey, and settle us here in safety, that we may be a people to the praise and honor of His name, who hath so dealt with us, and for the good and welfare of our posterity to come, we the Governor and Proprietors, freeholders and inhabitants of West New Jersey...do make and constitute these our agreements to be as fundamentals... 10. That liberty of conscience in matters of faith and worship towards God shall be granted to...

New Hampshire Commission of John Cutt (1680) <And ye President & Council...before they be admitted to their...offices... shall also take this Oath following, You shall swear, well and truly to administer Justice to all his Majesty's good subjects, inhabiting within ye Province of New Hampshire under this Government: & also duly & faithfully to discharge & execute ye Trust in you reposed, according to the best of your knowledge; you shall spare no person for favor or affection; nor any person grieve for hatred or ill will. So Help You God... And above all things we do by these presents...

Sieur de Bienville (February 23, 1680-March 7, 1768) was the French naval officer who founded New Orleans. Born in Canada, he helped to colonize French Louisiana and served as its Colonial Governor various times during the period 1701 and 1743. In his Last Will and Testament, Jean Baptiste LeMoyne Sieur de Bienville: <In the name of the Father, etc. Persuaded, as I am, of the necessity of death, and the uncertainty of the hour, I wish, before it arrives, to put my affairs in order. First, I consign my soul to God...I implore the mercy of God and of Jesus Christ,...

Fundamental Laws of West New Jersey (1676): <CHAPTER 16: That no men, nor number of men upon earth, hath power or authority to rule over men's consciences in religious matters, therefore it is consented, agreed and ordained, that no person or persons whatsoever within the said Province, at any time...shall be any ways...called in question, or in the least punished or hurt, either in person, estate, or privilege, for the sake of his opinion, judgment, faith or worship towards God in matters of religion. But that all and every such person, and persons may from time to time, and at...

Thanksgiving Proclamation (June 20, 1676) issued by the Governing Council of Charlestown, Massachusetts: <The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgments he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of...