American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Maryland (April 28, 1788) was the 7th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Maryland, adopted 1776, stated: <Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty.> 1788MD001 <Article XXXV. That no other test or qualification ought to be required, on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of support and fidelity to this State and such oath of office, as shall be directed by this Convention, or the Legislature of this State, and a declaration of a belief in the Christian...

Massachusetts (February 6, 1788): was the 6th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of Massachusetts, adopted 1780, stated: <Preamble. We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the Universe, in affording us, in the course of His Providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other;...and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design.> 1788MA001 The Constitution of Massachusetts, adopted 1780, stated: <The Governor shall be chosen annually; and no person shall be eligible to this...

Connecticut (January 9, 1788) was the 5th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Connecticut, adopted 1776, stated: <The People of this State...by the Providence of God...hath the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent State...and forasmuch as the free fruition of such liberties and privileges as humanity, civility, and Christianity call for, as is due to every man in his place and proportion...hath ever been, and will be the tranquility and stability of Churches and Commonwealth; and the denial thereof, the disturbances, if not the ruin of both.(until 1818)> 1788CT001...

Georgia (January 2, 1788) was the 4th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Georgia, adopted 1777, stated: <Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.> 1788GA001 <Article VI. All members of the Legislature shall be of the Protestant religion....The representatives shall be chosen out of the residents in each county...and they shall be of the Protestant religion.> 1788GA002 <Article LVI. All persons whatever shall have the free exercise of their religion; provided it not be repugnant to the peace and safety of the State;...

New Jersey (December 18, 1787) was the 3rd State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of New Jersey, adopted 1776, stated: <Article XVIII. That no person shall ever, within this Colony, be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; That there shall be no establishment of any one religious sect in this Province, in preference to another; and that no Protestant inhabitant of this Colony shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil right, merely on account of his religious principles; That all persons,...