American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779-January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer and poet. He was on a diplomatic mission from Washington, D.C., to free a popular American doctor held captive aboard the British flagship in Chesapeake Bay. On the fateful night of September 14, 1814, the ship Francis Scott Key was aboard was commandeered by the British, and he was forced to watch as the British unmercifully bombarded the U.S. Fort McHenry. As the smoke of the night passed and the morning light dawned, Key saw "Old Glory" still waving. So inspired was he that he penned The Star...

Council of New York (October 23, 1779) prescribed the oath to hold office in the State: <I do hereby solemnly without any mental reservation and equivocation whatsoever, swear and declare, and call God to Witness (or if of the People called Quakers affirm) That I renounce and abjure all Allegiance to the King of Great Britain; and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the State of New York as a free and independent State; and that I will in all things to the best of my knowledge and ability do my duty as a good and faithful...

South Carolina Constitution (March 19, 1778): <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. ARTICLE 3. That as soon as may be after the first meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives, and at every first meeting of the Senate and House of representatives thereafter, to be elected by virtue of this Constitution, they shall jointly in the House of Representatives choose by ballot from among themselves or from the people at large a governor and commander- in-chief,...

Georgia Constitution (1777): <ARTICLE 6: The representatives shall be chosen out of the residents in each county...and they shall be of the Protestant religion. ARTICLE 14. Every person entitled to vote shall take the following oath or affirmation, if required, viz: "I, A B. do voluntarily and solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I do owe true allegiance to this State, and will support the constitution thereof; So Help Me God." ARTICLE 15. Any five of the representatives elected, as before directed, being met, shall have power to...administer the oath to all other members that attend,...

Articles of Confederation (November 15, 1777) proposed by the Continental Congress, constituted the government in America prior to the writing of the United States Constitution. It was signed July 9, 1778, and finally ratified by the states March 1, 1781: <Preamble. Whereas the delegates of the United States of America in Congress assembled did on the fifteenth day of November in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, and in the second year of the independence of America agree on certain Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the States...> 1777AC001 <Article I. The style...