[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15956-15957]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1510
                          WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we celebrate the 223rd 
anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. As we do 
so, I think it is important to consider the humbling legacy bestowed by 
those who founded this country and the lawmakers who actually did come 
before us; because each day those of us who are currently holding 
office, we are so mired in the challenges and complexities of modern 
public policy, we scurry through these stately, ornate halls, often 
without so much as a glimpse at or a thought of the profound history 
that is depicted around us.
  For instance, just steps away, within the interior of the majestic 
Capitol Dome, is the Rotunda. I spent some time there recently, Mr. 
Speaker, reflecting on the moments in our Nation's history that gave 
rise to the gift of liberty we strive to safeguard each day in this 
body. Inside the Rotunda is a series of paintings that offer rich 
glimpses into some of these moments, starting with the Landing of 
Columbus in 1492, the Discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto in 1541, 
as well as the Baptism of Pocahontas in 1613. They all depict the 
opening of a new, mysterious world full of promise and things yet to 
come.
  The painting, the Embarkation of the Pilgrims in 1620, also speaks of 
opportunity, the anticipation of realizing a dream of freedom. The 
Declaration of Independence in 1776 follows. The Surrender of General 
Burgoyne in 1777, and the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781, as well 
as George Washington Resigning His Commission in 1783 are all 
celebrated pieces depicting the first moments of that new Republic.
  Possibly the most famous of these paintings is John Trumbull's 12-by-
18-foot-large Declaration of Independence. This historical piece of art 
depicts the presentation of the Declaration to the Second Continental 
Congress. Standing at the forefront of this painting are Thomas 
Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Benjamin 
Franklin, the authors of the profound document that gave way to the 
birth to our Nation.
  Painstaking care was given to each word in the Declaration, none of 
which may be more memorable than these: ``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 and the pursuit of Happiness.'' You see, the Declaration 
built upon a theory of natural and universal rights, the consent of the 
governed, and a right of redress when government was in violation of 
those essential principles. After setting forth those standards, the 
Declaration continued with a litany of grievances against King George, 
which, Mr. Speaker, is a very interesting prospect to reread that part 
of the Declaration.
  And then the Declaration finally concludes by saying, ``We, 
therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in 
General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the 
world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the 
Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and 
declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free 
and Independent States . . . And for the support of this Declaration, 
with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we 
mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred 
Honor.''
  Fifty-six individuals signed the Declaration, though it is possible 
that few knew the historical significance the document would ultimately 
bear. Historians suggest that the list of grievances against King 
George was of the highest importance to the signers, but today, like 
the revival of nationalism that did follow after the War of 1812, we 
perhaps find the greatest profundity and timeliness in the Preamble of 
the Declaration, and I think it bears repeating. ``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, and that 
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.''
  These words inspire reflection on our personal independence as 
American citizens secured through times of tumult and uncertainty.
  Not long after these words were handed down, another extraordinary 
document expressing our rights as American citizens was given unto the 
people. On September 17, 1787, 39 individuals signed the United States

[[Page 15957]]

Constitution, a document that changed the history of our nation--and 
the world.
  The Constitution holds special meaning for this body. We placed our 
hands on a Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. It is because of 
that deep abiding commitment to the Constitution that Congress 
prioritized celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the 
Constitution many years ago, and why we now celebrate ``Citizenship and 
Constitution Day'' each September 17. This 223rd Citizenship and 
Constitution Day, let us recall the extraordinary circumstances that 
gave rise to our great nation, and the words of our founding documents 
that endure as a call of conscience to a world crying out for meaning.

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