Bill Text: CA SR52 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relative to the 4th of July
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-07-03 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 4252.) [SR52 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SR52-Enrolled.html
BILL NUMBER: SR 52 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
ADOPTED IN SENATE JULY 3, 2014
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 19, 1950
INTRODUCED BY Senator Morrell
JUNE 26, 2014
Relative to the 4th of July
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST
WHEREAS, July 4, 2014, marks the 238th anniversary of the signing
of the Declaration of Independence, and by the adoption of that
document -- formally entitled, "The unanimous Declaration of the
thirteen United States of America" -- the nation we today know as the
United States of America officially came into being, an occasion
forever memorialized by President Abraham Lincoln in the words of his
Gettysburg Address as when "... our fathers brought forth upon this
continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal"; and
WHEREAS, On June 7, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at a
location today known as Independence Hall, Virginia delegate Richard
Henry Lee brought the following resolution before the Second
Continental Congress of the United Colonies: "Resolved, That these
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent
states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British
Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State
of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved"; and
WHEREAS, On June 8, 1776, Lee's resolution was referred to a
committee of the whole of the Continental Congress, at which time
they spent most of that day, as well as June 10, debating
independence; and
WHEREAS, On June 11, 1776, a "Committee of Five" -- with Thomas
Jefferson of Virginia being picked unanimously as its first member,
and also including John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of
Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of
Connecticut -- was charged with drafting a declaration of
independence for consideration by the Continental Congress; and
WHEREAS, The members of the "Committee of Five" assigned Jefferson
the task of producing a draft declaration, and on June 28, 1776, he
produced a draft that, with minor changes by the committee members,
was forwarded to the Continental Congress for its further
consideration; and
WHEREAS, On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted
the Lee resolution upon the affirmative vote of 12 of the 13 colonial
delegations, an occasion that delegate and future President John
Adams detailed to his wife Abigail in a letter written July 3, 1776,
as follows: "Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever
was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be
decided among Men"; and
WHEREAS, On July 4, 1776, after further debate and changes to the
committee document, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration
of Independence establishing the United States of America, to which
John Hancock that day affixed his signature, with 55 other delegates
representing the 13 colonies -- now states of the newly created
nation -- signing the declaration within the next several weeks; and
WHEREAS, The 4th of July is a day unlike any other -- in the
history of the United States of America, and indeed, the world -- in
that not only is it the day that an infant nation formally defied the
most powerful empire on earth in a quest for freedom, liberty, and
independence, but even more importantly because on that day this new
nation declared as a "self-evident truth" -- known and knowable to
all persons at all times in all places throughout the world -- the
radical notion that "all men are created equal ... endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"; and
WHEREAS, Since its adoption and bold pronouncement more than two
centuries ago, the Declaration of Independence and the principles
that animate that timeless document have inspired literally billions
of persons around the world to pursue freedom in their own nations,
for themselves and their own loved ones, and for their fellow men and
women, and remain today an imperfectly unrealized goal to which all
Americans and all who cherish liberty must rededicate themselves,
just as the drafters and signers of the Declaration of Independence
did by declaring: "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine
Providence, we mutually pledge d] to each other our Lives, our
Fortunes and our sacred Honor"; and
WHEREAS, The United States and California have a long and generous
tradition of welcoming people from all nations to our shores. This
tradition continues today as we invite all who yearn to be free, with
a respect for the rule of law, to join us and in the spirit of good
will mutually pledge ourselves to the principles laid out in the
Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, Preserving civil liberty is one of the most important
blessings and a most valuable inheritance this side of heaven.
Therefore, a basic knowledge of America's political principles
contained in our United States Constitution and Declaration of
Independence is necessary for the promotion of prosperity, virtue,
and public happiness. In the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, this system
of good laws and statutes that limit government's powers and ranks
the citizen above the state for our mutual benefit, is the foundation
and the cord that link the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving
people together; and
WHEREAS, On this and every 4th of July, it is both proper and
fitting that the institutions of California government, and indeed
all Californians, express heartfelt gratitude and indebtedness to
those men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United
States, and in particular to those who have suffered the injuries of
battle and who have made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting
freedom and liberty around the world, recalling the words of
President Abraham Lincoln that, as a result of their profound
sacrifice, "... this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of
freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth"; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
of the State of California does -- and intends to every year
immediately preceding the 4th of July -- take this opportunity to
recognize and celebrate July 4, 2014, and the 238th anniversary of
the birth of our great nation and the signing of the Declaration of
Independence that this day represents; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the State of California calls upon
all the people of the great State of California, and the United
States of America, to take the opportunity of the 4th of July holiday
to obtain a greater knowledge and understanding of the facts and
circumstances that compelled the 13 original colonies to declare
their independence, and of the timeless principles of liberty,
equality, and self-determination that rest at the heart of the
Declaration of Independence; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the State of California, on behalf of
a grateful citizenry, hereby expresses its heartfelt thanks,
appreciation, and prayers to all who have served -- and who currently
serve -- in the Armed Forces of the United States, in recognition of
the countless sacrifices made and the indispensable role these brave
men and women have played, even before the founding of our nation on
July 4, 1776, in preserving, protecting, and defending the freedoms
and liberties of all Americans, and expanding freedom throughout the
world; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Governor of the State of California, and to the
author for appropriate distribution.
