of the Rising and Setting Sun Chair
In 1787 at a Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was waiting to sign a document that would hold the fate and destiny of our nation. As he stood, his eyes fell upon a carving on the back of George Washington's chair, a carving of half a sun. He stared thoughtfully at it for a minute, then proclaimed words that would be remembered forever, "I have often looked at that picture behind the president without being able to tell whether it was a rising or setting sun. Now at length I have the happiness to know that it is indeed a rising, not a setting sun."
By this, he meant that we had risked
everything, and indeed did win. The sun will continue to shine over
America. If we had lost, the painting would have been declared a
setting sun, bringing darkness upon our nation.
"A Few Words By Benjamin Franklin"
Downloaded on December 29, 1998
http://home.earthlink.net/chalquist/franklin.html
"State of the State Speech of South Carolina"
By Governor David Beasley
Published in January 1998
Downloaded on December 29, 1998
http://www.nga.org/Releases/speeches/1998SouthCarolina.htm
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