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Of
Debates in Congress
Amendments
to the Constitution
Friday,
September 25, 1789
1
Annals of Cong. 949 et seq. (J. Gales ed., 1834)
In
the following selection, the First House of Representatives
formally urged the President to declare "a day of public
Thanksgiving and prayer."
RJ&L
Religious Institutions Group
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Pg.
949
DAY
OF THANKSGIVING.
Mr.
Boudinot said, he could not think of letting the session
pass over without offering an opportunity to all the citizens
of the United States of joining, with one voice, in returning
to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings
he had poured down upon them. With this view, therefore,
he wold move the following resolution:
Resolved,
that a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait
upon the President of the United States, to request that
he would recommend to the people of the United States a
day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by
acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many signal favors
of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity
peaceably to establish a Constitution of government for
their safety and happiness.
Mr.
Burke did not like this mimicking of European customs, where
they made a mere mockery of thanksgivings. Two parties at
war frequently sung Te Deum for the same event, though to
one it was a victory, and to the other a defeat.
Pg.
950
Mr.
Boudinot was sorry to hear arguments drawn from the abuse
of a good thing against the use of it. He hoped no gentleman
would make a serious opposition to a measure both prudent
and just.
Mr.
Tucker thought the House had no business to interfere in
a matter which did not concern them. Why should the President
direct the people to do what, perhaps, they have no mind
to do? They may not be inclined to return thanks for a Constitution
until they have experienced that it promotes their safety
and happiness. We do not yet know but they may have reason
to be dissatisfied with the effects it has already produced;
but whether this be so or not, it is a business with which
Congress have nothing to do; it is a religious matter, and,
as such, is proscribed to us. If a day of thanksgiving must
take place, let it be done by the authority of the several
States; they know best what reason their constituents have
to be pleased with the establishment of this constitution.
Mr.
Sherman justified the practice of thanksgiving, on any signal
event, not only as a laudable one in itself, but as warranted
by a number of precedents in holy writ: for instance, the
solemn thanksgivings and rejoicings which took place in
the time of Solomon, after the building of the temple, was
a case in point. This example, he thought, worthy of Christian
imitation on the present occasion; and he would agree with
the gentleman who moved the resolution.
Mr.
Boudinot quoted further precedents from the practice of
the late Congress; and hoped the motion would meet a ready
acquiescence.
The
question was now put on the resolution, and it was carried
in the affirmative; and Messrs. Boudinot, Sherman, and Sylvester
were appointed a committee on the part of the House.
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