« Traffic Alert: Oil spill on Route 95 | Today | Whitehouse to read Washington's letter in Senate »

July 8, 2008

Whitehouse to read Washington's letter in Senate

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., will participate this morning in the Senate’s celebration of American independence by reading a 1790 letter from President George Washington to the congregation of Touro Synagogue in Newport.

During morning business, senators will read the Declaration of Independence and other documents that played a significant role in shaping our nation, according to a press release from Whitehouse's office. Washington used the letter to Touro to commit the government of the United States to protecting religious freedom.

“In those first tumultuous years of our republic, before the adoption of the Bill of Rights, there was much uncertainty as to the guaranteed rights of individuals,” Whitehouse said in the press release. “This historic correspondence between President Washington and the Touro congregation in Newport served as an early guarantee that the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence would not be compromised.”

He's scheduled to read the letter at about 10:30 a.m.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 8:42 AM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)