Political Quotes

“I rise today to commemorate the bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812. The U.S. Congress declared war on Great Britain 200 years ago this week. The State of Maryland is proud of its contributions to this ``Second War for Independence,'' which reinforced United States sovereignty and gave birth to our national anthem. A generation after the United States declared its independence from Great Britain, the mercantilist ties between the two countries were not fully severed. The British impressed American merchant seamen, enforced illegal and unfair trade regulations, colluded with certain Native American tribes to attack frontier settlements, and attempted to block westward expansion. The United States declared war to assert autonomy over its own affairs once again, establish free trade, protect sailors' rights, and ensure that our Nation could prosper from sea to shining sea. President James Madison eloquently outlined these reasons 200 years ago when he called on ``all the good people of the United States, as they love their country, as they value the precious heritage derived from the virtue and valor of their fathers . . . [to] exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting concord, in maintaining the authority and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting and invigorating all the measures which may be adopted by the constituted authorities for obtaining a speedy, a just, and an honorable peace.'' The contributions of the U.S.…”