H RES 165

HRES 165 IH

Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America.

February 12, 2009

Mr. FRANKS of Arizona (for himself and Mr. KING of Iowa) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America.

Whereas Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809;

Whereas, due to his leadership, the United States completed the implementation of the promise that was contained in the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, and fulfilled the potential of the Constitution, namely the commitment to equality under the law;

Whereas Lincoln asserted the Dred Scott decision was erroneous and insisted that judges must leave political matters to the people, rather than the whims and preferences of judges;

Whereas Lincoln defeated Steven Douglas and was elected President of the United States in 1860;

Whereas Lincoln believed that a president, even acting as commander-in-chief, must exercise authority not as a dictator, benevolent or otherwise, but within the limits set forth by the Constitution;

Whereas Lincoln defended the maxim that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed;

Whereas Lincoln stated on June 17, 1858, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.’;

Whereas, at a time of profound national crisis, Abraham Lincoln affirmed the importance of the Union and esteemed its preservation as essential to pursuing the noble goals for which it was constituted; namely, the formation of a more perfect union marked by liberty, security and justice for all;

Whereas, on January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation; and

Whereas, on October 20, 1864, Lincoln proclaimed, ‘the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens wherever they may then be as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe’: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) celebrates the extraordinary life of Abraham Lincoln, and expresses its deep gratitude for his valiant leadership in preserving the Union, defending the natural rights of all individuals, and defending the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States; and

(2) recognizes the magnitude of his life’s legacy and the impact it has left on the United States of America and the rest of the world.