Full Text of HR0492 100th General Assembly
HR0492 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Most Serene Republic of | 3 | | San Marino was adopted on October 8, 1600, making the European | 4 | | enclave the world's oldest constitutional republic; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, On the 3rd day of September, 2017, the Most Serene | 6 | | Republic of San Marino will
celebrate the Feast of San Marino, | 7 | | a holiday recognizing
the anniversary of the foundation of the | 8 | | Republic in A.D. 301; and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, In the mid-19th century, there were only a few | 10 | | republics in Europe; hundreds of letters
poured in from all | 11 | | over the world in the spring of 1861, congratulating Abraham | 12 | | Lincoln, the favorite son of the State of Illinois, on his | 13 | | inauguration as
President of the United States; one in
| 14 | | particular from the oldest surviving
republic in the world, | 15 | | "the Most Serene Republic of San Marino", caught the eye of | 16 | | Secretary of State William Henry Seward; the message was | 17 | | addressed to
the new president of a much younger and most | 18 | | troubled republic facing secession and civil war; and | 19 | | WHEREAS, President Lincoln was greatly moved by the letter | 20 | | and it stirred him to view the national calamity
now facing his | 21 | | own country as part of a much grander question: what future, if | 22 | | any, did
republican democracy have in a world beset by slavery |
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| 1 | | and tyranny; and
| 2 | | WHEREAS, In his reply to San Marino, President Lincoln | 3 | | wrote: "Great and Good Friends ....
Although your dominion is | 4 | | small, your State is nevertheless one of the most honored, in | 5 | | all
history. It has by its experience demonstrated the truth, | 6 | | so full of encouragement to the friends of
Humanity, that | 7 | | Government founded on Republican principles is capable of being | 8 | | so
administered as to be secure and enduring"; and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, President Lincoln's letter then turned to | 10 | | America's troubles: "You have kindly adverted to the
trial | 11 | | through which this Republic is now passing. It is one of deep | 12 | | import. It involves the
question whether a Representative | 13 | | republic, extended and aggrandized so much as to be safe
| 14 | | against foreign enemies can save itself from the dangers of | 15 | | domestic faction. I have faith in a
good result."; a thought | 16 | | the president would place at the center of his Gettysburg | 17 | | Address, still
two and a half years in the future; and
| 18 | | WHEREAS, In President Lincoln's reply to the Captains | 19 | | Regent on May 7, 1861, the
United States of America by exchange | 20 | | of notes recognized the Most Serene Republic of San
Marino | 21 | | through the President's acceptance of San Marino's offer of | 22 | | honorary citizenship; therefore, be it
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 2 | | HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | 3 | | congratulate the Most Serene
Republic of San Marino upon the | 4 | | 2017 celebration of the Feast of San Marino and of the
| 5 | | foundation of the Republic, and with an enduring memory of the | 6 | | ties between our peoples we
thank the people and Captains | 7 | | Regent of San Marino for their friendship to the United States | 8 | | and
their recognition of President Abraham Lincoln; and be it | 9 | | further
| 10 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 11 | | presented to the people and the Captains
Regent of the Most | 12 | | Serene Republic of San Marino.
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