Consider
the following quotations that explain our responsibility as voters to elect as
our rulers people of morally upright character who respect God and His word.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"...
you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth,
hating covetousness ... and let them judge the people..." - Exodus
18:21,22
"When
the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man
rules, the people groan" - Prov. 29:2.
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any
people" - Prov. 14:34
"...For
there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are
appointed by God ... For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do
you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have
praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good ... an avenger
to execute wrath on him who practices evil." - Romans 13:1-4
"I
exhort ... that supplications, prayers, and giving of thanks be made for all
men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." - 1 Timothy 2:2
Quotations from the Founding Fathers
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Consider
the importance that many of our founding fathers and former rulers attached to
voting for candidates of high moral character who respect God and His word.
(Most of these quotations can be found in the book Original Intent, by David
Barton.)
John Adams
**********
(Second
president of the United States, Signer of the Declaration of Independence,
Member of the Continental Congress, Vice President under George Washington)
"We
electors [voters] have an important constitutional power placed in our hands;
... Let us examine, then, with a sober, a manly ... and a Christian spirit; let
us neglect all party [loyalty] and advert to facts; let us believe no man to be
infallible or impeccable in government any more than in religion; take no man's
word against evidence, nor implicitly adopt the sentiments of others who may be
deceived themselves, or may be interested in deceiving us."
[John
Adams, The Papers of John Adams, Robert J. Taylor, ed. (Cambridge: Belknap
Press, 1977), Vol. 1, p. 81, from "'U' to the Boston Gazette" written
on August 29, 1763.]
Samuel Adams
************
(Signer
of the Declaration of Independence, Member of Continental Congress, Governor of
Massachusetts)
"Let
each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote ... that he is
executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is
accountable to God and his country."
[Samuel
Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York:
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1907), Vol. IV, p. 256, in the Boston Gazette on April 16,
1781.]
"Nothing
is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all
persons employed in places of power and trust be men of unexceptionable
characters. The public cannot be too curious concerning the character of public
men."
[Samuel
Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York:
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1907), Vol. III, p. 236-237, to James Warren on November 4,
1775.]
James Garfield
**************
(Twentieth
President of the United States, US Senator, Member of US House of Representatives)
"Now
more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress.
If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people
tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave,
and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent
them in the national legislature. ... [I]f the next centennial does not find us
a great nation ... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the
culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political
forces."
[James
A. Garfield, The Works of James Abram Garfield, Burke Hinsdale, editor (Boston:
James R. Osgood and Company, 1883), Vol. II, pp. 486, 489, "A Century of
Congress," July, 1877.]
John Jay
********
(First
Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, President and Member of the Continental
Congress, co-author of the Federalist Papers)
"Providence
has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well
as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer
Christians for their rulers."
[John
Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Henry P. Johnston, ed.
(New York: G.P. Putnams Sons, 1890), Vol. IV, p. 365.]
Daniel Webster
**************
(US
Senator, US Representative, US Secretary of State)
"Impress
upon children the truth that the exercise of the elective franchise [vote] is a
social duty of as solemn a nature as man can be called to perform; that a man
may not innocently trifle with his vote; that every elector [voter] is a
trustee as well for others as himself and that every measure he supports has an
important bearing on the interests of others as well as on his own."
[Daniel
Webster, The Works of Daniel Webster (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company,
1853), Vol. II, p. 108, from remarks made at a public reception by the ladies
of Richmond, Virginia, on October 5, 1840.]
Noah Webster
************
(Author
of the American Dictionary of the English Language)
"When
you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it
be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers,
"just men who will rule in the fear of God." The preservation of
government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens
neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will
soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for
selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to
execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and
the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican
government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because
the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and
administer the laws."
[Noah
Webster, History of the United States (New Haven: Durrie & Peck, 1832), pp.
336-337.]
John Witherspoon
****************
(Signer
of the Declaration of Independence, Member of the Continental Congress)
"Those
who wish well to the State ought to choose to places of trust men of inward
principle, justified by exemplary conversation. ... [And t]he people in general
ought to have regard to the moral character of those whom they invest with
authority either in the legislative, executive, or judicial
branches."
[John
Witherspoon, The Works of John Witherspoon Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. IV,
pp. 266, 277.]
