Capitol 3 Conservatives: February 2009

Representative Bruce Hanna
R-Roseburg
District 7

Phone: 503-986-1407 900 Court St. NE, H-395, Salem Oregon 97301
Email: rep.brucehanna@state.or.us Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/hanna

Sesquicentennial Invitation Friday, February 6, 2009

Folks,

As you may know, February 14, 2009 is Oregon's Sesquicentennial. It's kind of a difficult word to pronounce, but we've been hearing it a lot around the Capitol. Just like the 1976 Bicentennial was our country's 200th Birthday, the Sesquicentennial is Oregon's 150th Birthday.

A big celebration is planned at the Capitol (after all, the Sesquicentennial only happens once). The Capitol will be open to the public; there will be a free lunch and activities for families and kids of all ages. There will even be commemorative sessions of the Senate and House of Representatives.

This is my personal invitation to you to join me here in the Capitol for this exciting event. I know it's a bit of a drive; but this will be a fun celebration. I'll be opening my offices in the newly-remodeled House office wing so that you can see our new working environment. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to visit with you in person without the press of legislative business intruding.

Here are the details:

What: Sesquicentennial Celebration
When: Saturday, February 14, 2009
Commemorative House Session - 10:00 am
Capitol/Office Wing tours - 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
(Click here for a map)

Give my office a call if you have any questions. I'll see you here next Saturday!

Sincerely,

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T&T

All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You. -Psalm 66:4

Oregon's Sacred Heritage

2009 is the 150th anniversary of Oregon statehood. All true American patriots have much to celebrate, as the expansion of the United States to the Pacific coast brought with it the blessings of God. The Constitution of Oregon included and expanded upon the rights and freedoms described in our Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. These biblical notions of the rights of man and his relationship with his government and his fellow man, acknowledge that all of creation is subordinate to a sovereign creator God, who is the author of our inalienable rights.

This was demonstrated in the first Independence Day celebration held in North America, west of the Rocky Mountains. It was inaugurated by an American naval Captain named Wilkes and the missionaries sent by Jason Lee from Salem mission. Oregon Territory was then under the 1812 joint occupancy agreement of USA and Great Britain. The celebration was held July 5th, 1841 at Nisqually (near Tacoma). They revered the Lord's Day as more important than the 4th, therefore moved the celebration to the 5th. Captain Wilkes described it as follows:

"There were present on this notable occasion over five hundred people, viz.: About sixty persons embracing naval officers, missionaries, and men from the Hudson Bay Co. trading post; one hundred marines, and about four hundred Indians.

Captain Wilkes was the officer of the day. Prayer was offered by Dr. Richmond. The Declaration of Independence was read by the sergeant of marines. The Scriptures were read by Captain Wilkes. Two songs were sung, viz., "The Star-Spangled Banner"
and "My Country, 'Tis of Thee",..."

The following oration was delivered by pastor and former Illinois legislator, Dr. Richmond:
"...We entertain the belief that the whole of this magnificent region of county so rich in the bounties of nature is destined to become a part of the American Republic...

The time will come when these hills and valleys will be peopled by our enterprising countrymen, and when they will contain cities and farms and manufacturing establishments, and when the benefits of home and civil life will be enjoyed by the people... They will assemble on the 4th of July as we have done to-day and renew their fidelity to the PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY EMBODIED IN THE "DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE", that we have heard read to-day... The future years will witness wonderful things in the settlement, the growth, and development of the United States, and especially of this coast...

In this new world there is sure to arise one of the greatest nations of the earth...

The illustrious founders of the American Republic declared against the union of the Church (any specific denomination) and State; in this they did well, yet it is undeniably true that the world's civilization of to-day is inseparably connected with the religion of Christ, and it could not survive if the Christlife and Spirit were eliminated from it...

Our mission to these children of the forest (Indians) is to so teach them the truth of the gospel that they shall be fitted for the responsibilities of intelligent Christian citizenship... We are here also to assist in laying the foundation stones of a great American commonwealth on these Pacific shores."

In his 1907 book, "The Conquerors" Rev. A. Atwood goes on to point out that this frontier christening was significant because it recognized that our country came into existence because it put God first. It further acknowledged that the Oregon Territory was first established for the Gospel, and that as long as it continued to do so this land would be "fitted for the responsibilities of intelligent Christian citizenship".

With this statement, Mr. Atwood reiterates the overwhelming theme of God centered government found in quotes from the great majority of the 250 founding fathers of our nation. The more we study the history of our state and nation, the more we discover the providential emergence of a nation based on biblical ideas of equality, freedom, and divinely appointed rights of man. Thomas Jefferson asked, "CAN THE LIBERTIES OF A NATION BE SECURE WHEN WE HAVE REMOVED THE CONVICTION THAT THESE LIBERTIES ARE A GIFT FROM GOD?"

No government is perfect, due to man's sin nature. A government founded upon the acknowledgment of that fallen nature recognizes the need for the rule of law and the balance of power between different branches of government, to protect man's inalienable rights. The United States was the first national government to acknowledge these realities and implement constitutional protections based on government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Our founding fathers often said, our constitutional protections are only as solid as our individual and collective commitment to Christian moral principles and civic virtue. "The virtue which is necessary to preserve a just administration and render a government stable, is Christian virtue, which consists in the uniform practice of moral and religious duties, in conformity with the laws of both God and man. This virtue must be based on a reverence for the authority of God, which shall counteract and control ambition and selfish views, and subject them to the precepts of divine authority. The effect of such a virtue would be, to bring the citizens of a state to vote and act for the good of the state, whether that should coincide with their private interests or not." Noah Webster

Without these restraints on our self-serving impulses, our Constitution is subtly perverted into a "living document" open to contemporary reinterpretation by 'progressives", resulting in the inevitable loss of our rights and liberties, as we are now experiencing. This is the process through which God is replaced by government and tyrants ascend to power. William Penn declared, "YOU MAY BE GOVERNED BY GOD OR RULED BY TYRANTS. "... choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." Joshua 24:15