[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 41 (Wednesday, April 5, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FLUSHING REMONSTRANCE RECOGNIZED AS FOUNDATION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN 
                                AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the significance of a 
document that was fundamental in shaping the United States as a land of 
liberties. I am not speaking about the Declaration of Independence, or 
the Constitution, for that matter. The document I want to recognize is 
the Flushing Remonstrance, which was written nearly 120 years before 
the Declaration of Independence.
  For 300 years, the Flushing Remonstrance, the first recorded defense 
of religious freedom in the new world, was locked away in a vault in 
Albany, New York. The Remonstrance is believed by historians to be the 
first Declaration of Independence and a forerunner of the first 
amendment.
  As a result of the efforts of the Queens Courier, an award-winning 
community weekly newspaper, this historic document was brought to 
Queens for a viewing at the Flushing Library. The initiative was 
spearheaded by David Oats, a historian and special projects editor for 
that newspaper.
  Now that that public display at the library is ending, I am working 
with the Courier and community groups to seek permanent custody of this 
document in Queens County, particularly in Flushing, New York.
  The saga of the document began more than 340 years ago when a group 
of about 30 freeholders in Flushing held a town meeting to discuss 
Governor Peter Stuyvesant's restrictions on the Quakers because they 
were not members of the Dutch Reform Church. The Flushing Remonstrance 
lay the groundwork of this early colony in America, which is located in 
what is now called Flushing, in my congressional district of Queens, 
New York.
  I have informed the State that the best argument for moving the 
document to Flushing is its very name, the Flushing Remonstrance. It 
has lain dormant for years in a vault in Albany. I will continue to 
urge the State of New York to permanently relocate the Flushing 
Remonstrance in its rightful place in Flushing, Queens, New York.
  Mr. Speaker, Flushing, New York, in all likelihood, is probably the 
most diverse place in the entire world. We have more ethnic and racial 
and religious makeups than any corner of this country certainly, and, 
therefore, I believe, anywhere in the world. It is appropriate that the 
Flushing Remonstrance find its way home to Flushing, Queens.
  We probably need it more now than ever to remind people of the rich 
history of diversity and tolerance in Queens County, particularly in 
Flushing. It will be a perfect reminder for not only future generations 
but for generations here now, to remind them of the rich history that 
lay in Flushing, Queens, a rich history that I would like to bring out 
more. I believe if this document is relocated back in its rightful 
place and home, we will go a long way in accomplishing that.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the Queens Courier and the Queens Public 
Library for its campaign to bring the Flushing Remonstrance to Queens 
permanently.

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