[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, this year marks the 250th 
anniversary of York County, Pennsylvania. Today, I rise to recognize 
the establishment and storied history of this county which contributed 
greatly to the founding of our Nation.
  Established in 1749, York had formerly been a part of neighboring 
Lancaster County. The citizens of York had petitioned for their own 
county so that they could establish a courthouse in closer proximity to 
their jail. With the granting of the petition, York became the first 
county in Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna River and the fifth 
county in Pennsylvania overall. Since that time, the county has 
developed rich and dynamic civic, social, political and economic 
institutions, including both durable agricultural and industrial bases, 
and serves as a model for communities across the Commonwealth and the 
Nation.
  Mr. President, from September 1777 through June 1778, York served as 
the capital of our Nation. As British General Howe's army occupied 
Philadelphia, our early government, the Continental Congress, was first 
moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After one day, the Continental 
Congress sought to place further distance between it and the British, 
so it crossed the Susquehanna river at Wrights' Ferry and resumed 
session in the Colonial Courthouse in Center Square, York.
  Mr. President, it was during the time that the York hosted our 
nation's government that the Marquis de Lafayette made the famous 
``toast that saved the nation.'' With this toast, Lafayette proclaimed 
his continued support for, and espoused the attributes of, General 
Washington at a time when certain factions were calling for the General 
to be replaced. This toast has been credited as saving George 
Washington's position as our first Commander in Chief. It was also 
during the time that the Continental Congress convened in York that it 
adopted the Articles of Confederation. This important document was the 
precursor to the Constitution and marked the first use of the term 
``United States of America.''
  Mr. President, the people of York County are proud of their history 
and their traditions. I am proud to join York in this celebration and 
ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating York on its 250th 
anniversary.

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