[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 144 (Thursday, October 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CHARTER OF PRIVILEGES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 25, 2001

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution 
commending the life and work of William Penn--particularly his 
foundational document, the Charter of Privileges--and celebrating the 
anniversary of the Liberty Bell and the first public reading of the 
Declaration of Independence.
  William Penn was a distinguished statesman and a principled fighter 
for religious freedom. Penn was ahead of his time in his thinking about 
religious freedom and Native American rights and his commitment to 
republican principles. Revolutionary for its time, Penn's Charter is 
considered by some to be the Magna Carta of American religious liberty.
  Mr. Speaker, the events of September 11 are an eloquent reminder that 
liberty is not something that we should take for granted. Many people 
around the world are denied the right to worship freely and to have 
basic human rights--such as the freedom of assembly and the freedom of 
association.
  We must remember that it was not long ago, in the history of our own 
nation, that religious freedom and human rights were reserved for a 
privileged group. When Penn wrote his Charter of Privileges, in Penn's 
own hometown of Philadelphia, slavery was legal and Roman Catholic 
worship was illegal. It was in this crucible of prejudice that Penn 
sought to create a new society--one that would embrace the tenets of 
individual dignity and freedom of conscience.
  In the Charter, Penn ensured that no citizen would be discriminated 
against because of his or her faith, nor would any citizen be denied a 
role in civil government because of the expression of his or her faith. 
Penn recognized the role of religion in public life and affirmed its 
importance.
  Penn's vision of a free society with freedom of religious conscience 
was conceived in the Tower of London where he was imprisoned for his 
Quaker convictions. Penn's radical dream that Philadelphia would be a 
city of brotherly love--where liberties entirely unknown elsewhere in 
the world would be legislated and practiced--set a new standard for 
religious liberty that profoundly impacted American history.
  Many people are unaware that the Liberty Bell was made in order to 
commemorate the 50th anniversary of Penn's Charter of Privileges. With 
the Liberty Bell as its inspiration, abolitionists in Pennsylvania 
moved swiftly to make Pennsylvania one of the first colonies to work 
toward the abolition of slavery. In addition, the Liberty Bell was 
tolled to summon the citizenry to the first public reading of the 
Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776.
  Under William Penn's leadership, an atmosphere of liberty and 
religious tolerance was cultivated that had a large impact on the 
intellectual and commercial life of Pennsylvania, particularly 
Philadelphia. Some of our nation's founding documents, including the 
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were crafted in 
Philadelphia during this time of extraordinary commitment to individual 
liberty.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout our nation's history, we have been fortunate 
to have men and women of strong character and firm convictions who have 
led our country to greater heights and a purer vision for our nation. 
William Penn was such an individual, and it is my privilege to honor 
him today by introducing this resolution.

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