Stewart Alsop Quotes

This appears to be the first dated use of this phrase. Thomas Paine used the term in a publication on January 13, 1777, and is often incorrectly given credit for its coinage. Actually, Paine was not even the first to publish the phrase. Four days after Gerry wrote his letter, a letter to the editor appeared in the Pennsylvania Evening Post signed “Republicus.” His identity is not known. A few days later, July 4, the Declaration of Independence was signed. Its last paragraph refers to “the Representatives of the United States of America.” But the Declaration, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin was actually drafted from June 11 to June 28, so this draft may have predated Gerry’s letter. In 1775 Franklin had published the term, “United States of North America,” and Thomas Jefferson used the phrase, “The American states united” in 1774.

In a House debate in 1923 on the Nordic or Latin discovery of America, Congressman Summers of Washington asked Italian-American Congressman La Guardia to yield to ask whether or not Christopher Columbus had come from "your country."

At the time his Vice President, John C. Calhoun, was expounding a theory of “nullification” by which the states could supersede and nullify federal law in their states. When Jackson finished his toast, it was Calhoun’s turn (See {635896}.) His toast supported the States’ Rights position over the federal government. In those days Presidents and Vice President’s were often political enemies or of opposite parties. The President’s advisors thought that his toast might be misinterpreted. So when they gave the toast to the press as “The Federal Union: It must be preserved.” That was the form in which the press reported the President’s toast and for many years that was the version most quoted even though it was never delivered that way. However Jackson was responsible for both versions.

At the time the Republican party was a minor, third party and Douglas was disparaging that. While Douglas' general point has held true, the Republicans supplanted the Whigs as the second major party shortly thereafter.

The First and Official Use of the Name