American Minute with Bill FedererThe Great State of Tennessee |
Spanish Explorers Hernando de Soto, in 1540, and Juan Pardo, in 1567, traveled inland from North America’s eastern coast and passed through a Native American village named “Tanasqui.” A century and a half later, British traders encountered a Cherokee town named Tanasi.
Tennessee’s Constitution stated in Article XI, Section IV: “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under this State…” “No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State.” Evidently, acknowledging God was not a ‘religious test.’ Tennessee was birthplace of: Congressman Davy Crockett, who died at the Alamo; Sam Houston, who helped Texas gain its independence; Admiral David Farragut, who won the Battle of Mobile Bay; Matthew Fontaine Maury, U.S. Navy oceanographer; and Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee written language. General Andrew Jackson served from Tennessee as a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator, as well as a Tennessee State Supreme Court Judge.
Considered the founder of the Democrat Party, Andrew Jackson was the only President to completely pay off the national debt, stating December 5, 1836: “The experience of other nations admonished us to hasten the extinguishment of the public debt… An improvident expenditure of money is the parent of profligacy, and that no people can hope to perpetuate their liberties who long acquiesce in a policy which taxes them for objects not necessary to the legitimate and real wants of their Government…”
“To require the people to pay taxes to the Government merely that they may be paid back again… Nothing could be gained by it even if each individual who contributed a portion of the tax could receive back promptly the same portion…” Jackson added: “Congress is only authorized to levy taxes ‘to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.’ There is no such provision as would authorize Congress to collect together the property of the country, under the name of revenue, for the purpose of dividing it equally or unequally among the States or the people. Indeed, it is not probable that such an idea ever occurred to the States when they adopted the Constitution… There would soon be but one taxing power, and that vested in a body of men far removed from the people, in which the farming and mechanic interests would scarcely be represented.”
“The States would gradually lose their purity as well as their independence; they would not dare to murmur at the proceedings of the General Government, lest they should lose their supplies;
America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations President James K. Polk, who had been Governor of Tennessee (1839-41), issued General Order No. 27, June 16, 1845: “The President…with heartfelt sorrow announces…the death of Andrew Jackson… He resigned his spirit to his Heavenly Father… Heaven gave him length of days and he filled them with deeds of greatness… He believed the liberties of his country imperishable… He departed from this life in a full hope of a blessed immortality through the merits and atonement of the Redeemer. Officers of the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps will wear crape on the left arm and on their swords, and the colors of the several regiments will be put in mourning for the period of six months.” On June 24, 1861, Tennessee became the last State to join the Confederacy. During the Civil War, more battles were fought in Tennessee than any other State except Virginia. Among them were: Capture of Fort Donelson, Feb. 11-16, 1862 – 16,537 casualties; After the Civil War, Tennessee was the first State readmitted to the Union, JULY 24, 1866.
“I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby…declare that the full pardon…shall henceforth be…extended to all persons who, directly or indirectly, participated in the late rebellion, with the restoration of all privileges, immunities, and rights of property, except as to property with regard to slaves… Every person who shall seek to avail himself of this proclamation shall take and subscribe the following oath… ‘I, ____ , do solemnly swear (or affirm), in the presence of and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the late rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves. So help me God.'” For God’s Glory Alone Ministries thanks Bill Federer & www.AmericanMinute.com
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