American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

New York (July 26, 1788) was the 11th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of New York, adopted 1777, stated: <Article XXXVIII. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever hereafter be allowed, within this State, to all mankind: Provided, that the liberty of conscience, hereby granted, shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness.> 1788NY001 On March 29, 1799, the State of New York, in the twenty-second session, second meeting of the legislature, passed an Act which abolished slavery within the State. The Constitution...

Virginia (June 25, 1788) was the 10th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Virginia, ratified June 12, 1776, stated: <Bill of Rights, Article XVI. That Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator, and the Manner of discharging it, can be directed only by Reason and Convictions, not by Force or Violence; and therefore all Men are equally entitled to the free exercise of Religion, according to the Dictates of Conscience; and that it is the mutual Duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love, and Charity towards each other.> 1788VA001 -- American Quotations...

New Hampshire (June 21, 1788) was the 9th State admitted to the Union, completing the ratification of the United States Constitution. The Constitution of the State of New Hampshire, adopted 1776, stated: <That morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles would give the best and greatest security to government, and would lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligation to due subjection; and that the knowledge of these was most likely to be propagated by the institution of the public worship of the Deity and instruction in morality and religion.> 1788NH001 In 1792, the legislature of the State...

South Carolina (May 23, 1788) was the 8th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of South Carolina, adopted 1778, stated: <Preamble. We, the people of the State of South Carolina...grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the preservation and perpetuation of the same.> 1788SC001 <Article III. [Privy Council and State officers to be] all of the Protestant religion.> 1788SC002 <Article XII....The qualifications of electors shall be that every...person, who acknowledges the being of a God, and believes in the future state of rewards and punishments...[is eligible to vote].  No person shall be...

Maryland State Seal (April 28, 1788) was approved the year Maryland was admitted to the Union. The State Seal pictured a farmer and a fisherman, reflecting the occupations of the early settlers; a shield with the coat of arms of the Calverts and the Crosslands (Alicia Crossland was the mother of the first Baron of Baltimore, George Calvert); and beneath the shield is the Latin motto: <Scuto Bonae Voluntatis Tuae Coronasti Nos (Thou hast crowned us with the shield of Thy good will-Psalms 5:12).> 1788MD010 -- American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use...