RICHARD HENRY LEE CHAPTER

1743 Lauren Lane
Auburn, AL 36830-7563

20 September 1996

Mr. Phillip Lucas, Editor-in-Chief
Opelika-Auburn News
Opelika, Alabama

Dear Sir:

Please print the following contribution calling readers' attention to Constitution Week:

September - A Month to Remember in Eighteenth Century U.S. History

On 3 September 1783, almost two years after the American victories over the British at Saratoga and Yorktown, The Treaty of Paris was signed, thus enabling the establishment of a new nation based on the rule of law, rather than the rule of men. Having won our freedom from British tyranny, bought with the blood of the patriots who fought for it, the United States of America still had much work to be done. It took four more years for our founding fathers to forge the U.S. Constitution, which was signed in Philadelphia on 17 September 1787.

But Thomas Jefferson was not satisfied with the new Constitution. In his own words, written in 1802 to Dr. Priestly, "I was in Europe when the Constitution was planned, and I never saw it till after it was established. On receiving it I wrote strongly to Mr. Madison, urging the want of provision for the freedom of religion, freedom of the press, trial by jury, habeus corpus, the substitution of militia for a standing army, and an express reservation to the States of all rights not specifically granted to the Union. He accordingly moved in the first session of Congress for these amendments, which were agreed to and ratified by the States as they now stand. This is all the hand that I had in what related to the Constitution. . . ." This is all, indeed!

Of twelve amendments to the Constitution proposed on 25 September 1789, ten were ultimately ratified by the requisite two-thirds of the states. These ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

Defend & Uphold the Constitution

During this Constitution Week, 17-23 September 1996, many people will become naturalized citizens, taking the Oath of American Citizenship, declaring under oath ". . . that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same . . ." Can we fellow Americans who were lucky enough to be born U.S. Citizens offer any less to our Country?

The Richard Henry Lee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, whose namesake offered the original resolution* dissolving our connection with the British Crown, calls upon all Americans to adhere to the same standards to which we hold naturalized citizens, who are considered traitors of the country they have adopted if they take the Oath with intent to deceive. Let none of us fail to uphold this "true faith" demanded from all Americans.

Prospective members and others interested in the patriotic, historical, and educational objectives of the Sons of the American Revolution are welcome to call Chapter President William A. Segraves at (334)826-2988 for further information.

William Alexander Segraves, President
Richard Henry Lee Chapter
Sons of the American Revolution

*"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."

Richard Henry Lee
Continental Congress
7 June 1776

Attachment: Facsimile copy of Richard Henry Lee's original resolution