Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 167 (Wednesday, October 31, 2007)

[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 167 (Wednesday, October 31, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H12349-H12350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I think it is wise from time to time that we in
this House reflect upon our heritage, who we are and where we get our
dignity as individuals in this country. As a former judge in Texas for
over 22 years, I like to spend time in our schools, our elementaries,
junior highs, high schools and even our law schools, discussing all
aspects of the United States and our history. And I would often ask
this question to the groups that I was talking to: ``Where do we, as
Americans, get our rights?''
Sometimes asking that question would cause people some concern that
made them somewhat uncomfortable, especially the elites in our law
schools. I would ask those questions to not only law professors but
justices on our courts throughout the fruited plain.
But the answers would vary from the students. Some would say we get
our rights from our parents. Others would say, well, we get our rights
from the President. Even one student last week told me we get our
rights from Harry Potter. But most of the kids that I would talk to and
most of the professors I would talk to say, well, we get our rights as
Americans from government.
All of those answers, I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, are wrong because
we don't get our rights from any of those entities. We talk about our
rights, we claim we have rights, but we never talk about where we get
them. I think it would be easier to describe a story that occurred
shortly after the Iron Curtain, as Churchill called it, came down, the
Berlin Wall, the wall that separated East from West, freedom from
slavery. When the wall came down, there were numerous political
prisoners in Eastern Europe that were finally freed but put in prison
by those oppressive governments for exercising what they believed to be
freedoms. One was a Prague, Czechoslovakian student who had gone to
prison for 7 years and was serving time because he was reading on the
steps of Prague University a forbidden document, a document that that
Communist regime said that no one shall read in public.
I would like to read a portion of that document here tonight. He
quoted someone from the United States. In that statement where he spent
7 years in prison, he stated, ``We hold these truths to be self-
evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, that to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving the just powers from the
consent of the governed.''
Yes, Mr. Speaker, that Prague student who spent 7 years in prison
understood where his rights came from. It was not from government, but
it was from the Almighty, the Creator, as quoted in the Declaration of
Independence that he chose to read and cost him 7 years of his freedom,
that Declaration of Independence that was written and authored by
Thomas Jefferson.
Of course that document was the status and the statement and the
indictment against King George, not the people of England, but King
George, the Government of England, for why the United States had a
right to be a separate and independent nation. It was an indictment
stating the causes, and finally the Constitution was the government
that we set up to preserve the rights in the Declaration of
Independence.
We get our rights from the Creator. Because if we get our rights from
government, governments can take those rights away from us at any time
government wishes to do so. Mr. Speaker, 49 of the 50 States have in
their preambles a reference to the Almighty. Many of those preambles
mention the fact that they get their rights in the States from the
Creator.
The Bill of Rights in our Constitution limits government. Government
does not have rights. Government has power. And government gets power
from us when we choose to give up individual liberty and give up
individual rights. Government has the power to control us and control
our liberties only if we let it. So the Bill of Rights and the
Constitution says government was set up to protect the rights that we
have, those God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. In fact, the ninth amendment to the Bill of Rights says
there are more rights that aren't even listed in the Bill of Rights
that we have.
Mr. Speaker, on the Jefferson Memorial down the street from where we
all are is written a quote by Thomas Jefferson which says, ``God who
gave us Life gave us Liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure
when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of
God?''
Mr. Speaker, if we fail to acknowledge this legal principle of God-
given rights, then we deny our heritage as Americans and our reason to
be a free people.

[[Page H12350]]

And that's just the way it is.

State Constitutions--References to God

Alabama 1901, Preamble: We the people of the State of
Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do
ordain and establish the following Constitution.
Alaska 1956, Preamble: We, the people of Alaska, grateful
to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this
great land.
Arizona 1911, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do
ordain this Constitution . . .
Arkansas 1874, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of
choosing our own form of government . . .
California 1879, Preamble: We, the People of the State of
California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
Colorado 1876, Preamble: We, the people of Colorado, with
profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe . . .
Connecticut 1818, Preamble: The People of Connecticut,
acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in
permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897, Preamble: Through Divine Goodness all men
have, by nature, the rights of worshiping and serving their
Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional
liberty, establish this Constitution . . .
Georgia 1777, Preamble: We, the people of Georgia, relying
upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and
establish this Constitution . . .
Hawaii 1959, Preamble: We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful
for Divine Guidance . . . Establish this Constitution . . .
Idaho 1889, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Idaho,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its
blessings.
Illinois 1870, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political
and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to
enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble: We, the People of the State of
Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of
the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Iowa,
grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto
enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation
of these blessings establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble: We, the people of Kansas, grateful
to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges
establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble: We, the people of the Commonwealth
are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and
religious liberties . . .
Louisiana 1921, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political
and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820, Preamble: We the People of Maine acknowledging
with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler
of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an
opportunity . . . And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble: We, the people of the state of
Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and
religious liberty . . .
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble: We . . . the people of
Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the
goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe . . . In the
course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly
imploring His direction . . .
Michigan 1908, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of
freedom establish this Constitution.
Minnesota 1857, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious
liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890, Preamble: We, the people of Mississippi
in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and
invoking His blessing on our work. . . .
Missouri 1845, Preamble: We, the people of Missouri, with
profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and
grateful for His goodness . . . Establish this Constitution.
Montana 1889, Preamble: We, the people of Montana, grateful
to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this
Constitution.
Nebraska 1875, Preamble: We, the people, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom . . . Establish this
Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble: We the people of the State of
Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish
this Constitution.
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every
individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God
according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious
liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and
looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble: We, the People of New Mexico,
grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty.
New York 1846, Preamble: We, the people of the State of New
York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to
secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868, Preamble: We the people of the State
of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign
Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious
liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the
continuance of those.
North Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of North
Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil
and religious liberty, do ordain . . .
Ohio 1852, Preamble: We the people of the state of Ohio,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its
blessings and to promote our common.
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble: Invoking the guidance of Almighty
God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of
liberty establish this.
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, and Article I. Section 2. All
men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their consciences.
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble: We, the people of
Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of
civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His
guidance.
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble: We the People of the State of
Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and
religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to
enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing.
South Carolina 1778, Preamble: We, the people of the State
of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do
ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of South
Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious
liberties.
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. that all men have a natural
and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to
the dictates of their conscience . . .
Texas 1845, Preamble: We the People of the Republic of
Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and
beneficence of God.
Utah 1896, Preamble: Grateful to Almighty God for life and
liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble: Whereas all government ought to
enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural
rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has
bestowed on man . . .
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty
which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and
that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian
Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other.
Washington 1889, Preamble: We the People of the State of
Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for
our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
West Virginia 1872, Preamble: Since through Divine
Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and
religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm
our faith in and constant reliance upon God . . .
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble: We, the people of Wisconsin,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic
tranquility.
Wyoming 1890, Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and
religious liberties establish this Constitution.

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