[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4412-S4413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    BICENTENNIAL OF THE WAR OF 1812

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 
bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812. The U.S. Congress declared 
war on Great Britain 200 years ago this week. The State of Maryland is 
proud of its contributions to this ``Second War for Independence,'' 
which reinforced United States sovereignty and gave birth to our 
national anthem.
  A generation after the United States declared its independence from 
Great Britain, the mercantilist ties between the two countries were not 
fully severed. The British impressed American merchant seamen, enforced 
illegal and unfair trade regulations, colluded with certain Native 
American tribes to attack frontier settlements, and attempted to block 
westward expansion. The United States declared war to assert autonomy 
over its own affairs once again, establish free trade, protect sailors' 
rights, and ensure that our Nation could prosper from sea to shining 
sea.
  President James Madison eloquently outlined these reasons 200 years 
ago when he called on ``all the good people of the United States, as 
they love their country, as they value the precious heritage derived 
from the virtue and valor of their fathers . . . [to] exert themselves 
in preserving order, in promoting concord, in maintaining the authority 
and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting and invigorating all the 
measures which may be adopted by the constituted authorities for 
obtaining a speedy, a just, and an honorable peace.''
  The contributions of the U.S. Navy were instrumental in repelling the 
British during the War of 1812. The U.S. Navy hardly had a dozen 
warships compared to the hundreds of ships comprising the British 
fleet. British ships were undermanned, however, while well-trained and 
talented officers and seamen took command of American ships. These men 
were largely from coastal States, like Maryland, and were accustomed to 
seafaring. COMO Matthew Perry took on the British Navy on Lake Erie in 
1813 with a scrappy fleet of light ships. Even though his force was 
seemingly decimated by the British, Commodore Perry resorted to 
paddling a rowboat with a banner that read ``Don't Give up the Ship.'' 
He then boarded the Niagara, double-loaded the carronades, and sailed 
directly into the British line, ultimately claiming victory.
  The following summer, in 1814, the British Navy sailed up the 
Chesapeake Bay to attack our Nation's capital and seize the valuable 
port city of Baltimore. The British dealt heavy blows to Washington, 
DC, setting both the U.S. Capitol and the White House ablaze. British 
forces then moved toward Baltimore. Citizens of Baltimore, including 
free Blacks, quickly mobilized to protect their city. Barricades 
stretching more than 1 mile long were constructed to protect the 
harbor, hulls were sunk to impede navigation, and a chain of masts was 
erected across the harbor entrance. When the British fleet approached 
Baltimore at North Point, Marylanders fought the British Army and 
helped repulse the British Navy from Fort McHenry during the Battle of 
Baltimore. It is important to note that American forces during the 
Battle of North Point were volunteer militia, heavily outnumbered by 
the highly trained British infantry, but managed to delay the British 
forces long enough for 10,000 American reinforcements to arrive, 
preventing a land attack against Baltimore. Following 25 hours of 
intense British naval bombardment at Fort McHenry, the American 
defenders refused to yield, and the British were forced to depart.
  During the bombardment, American lawyer Francis Scott Key, who was 
being held on board an American flag-of-truce vessel in Baltimore 
Harbor, took notice of the American flag still flying atop Fort 
McHenry. Key realized then that the Americans had survived the battle 
and stopped the enemy advance. He was so moved by the sight of the 
American flag flying following the horrific bombardment, he composed a 
poem called ``The Defense of Fort McHenry,'' which was published in the 
Baltimore Patriot and Advertiser newspaper later that year. This poem, 
and later the song, inspired love of country among the American people 
and not only helped usher in the ``era of good feelings'' immediately 
after the war, but became a timeless reminder of American resolve. 
``The Star Spangled Banner'' officially became our National Anthem in 
1931. The flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired this anthem is 
now a national treasure on display at the Smithsonian Institution, a 
very short distance from where we are today.
  The War of 1812 confirmed the legitimacy of the Revolution and served 
as a critical test for the U.S. Constitution and newly established 
democratic government. Our young Nation battled against the largest, 
most powerful military on the Earth at that time and emerged with an 
enhanced standing among the countries of the world, both militarily and 
diplomatically. The U.S. economy was freed of its dependence on British 
goods, which unleashed domestic manufacturing and spawned the 
industrial revolution. The U.S. Navy proved its worth and the U.S. 
Congress rewarded the Navy with funding for a permanent, more expansive 
fleet. A new generation of Americans too young to remember Lord 
Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, which effectively ended the 
Revolutionary War, and an older generation proud of defending American 
independence twice in their lifetimes, were inspired by Francis Scott 
Key's words, which embody our universal feelings of patriotism and 
courage.
  As a Marylander, I am proud of the contributions of my State in the 
War of 1812 and I have been involved in legislative efforts to bring 
greater attention to this bicentennial celebration. My colleague, 
Representative Dutch Ruppersberger, and I sponsored the Commemorative 
Coin Act, which President Obama signed into law in August 2010, 
directing the U.S. Mint to create coins commemorating this important 
anniversary. These gold and silver coin designs are emblematic of the 
War of 1812, particularly the Battle of Baltimore that inspired our 
National Anthem. The coins are on sale this year only and the 
surcharges from these commemorative coins will provide support to the 
Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission to conduct activities, 
assist in educational outreach, and preserve sites and structures 
relating to the War of 1812.
  I am proud that Maryland will lead the Star-Spangled 200 celebration, 
a 3-year celebration that just began with Baltimore's ``Sailabration'' 
this past weekend. The Navy's Blue Angels treated spectators to 
dazzling air shows; the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra premiered the 
``Overture for 2012,'' composed by Philip Glass; and dozens of tall 
ships and naval warships from around the world anchored in the Inner 
Harbor, open for public tours. Through 2014, Maryland will host 
numerous events along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail 
and at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine to celebrate 
the bicentennial. This commemoration is an opportunity to showcase to 
the world that Maryland is an exceptional place to live, work, and 
visit.
  I am also proud that the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution 
I sponsored to mark the bicentennial, to celebrate the heroism of the 
American people during the conflict, and to recognize the various 
organizations involved in the bicentennial celebration, including the 
U.S. Armed Forces, the National Park Service, and the Maryland War of 
1812 Bicentennial Commission. As we recognize all of these ongoing 
efforts during this commemorative period, I encourage all Americans to 
remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives to defend our 
nation's freedom and democracy in its infancy, and to join in the 
bicentennial celebration of our victory in the War of 1812.

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