The Cornerstone

History 2 Minutes

From: THEHORN.NET:

In the early years of the United States, Congress didn’t have a permanent home. Lawmakers met in borrowed chambers across cities like New York and Philadelphia while leaders debated where to plant the capital. The Residence Act of 1790 gave President George Washington the authority to choose a permanent site. He selected land carved from Maryland and Virginia—what became Washington, D.C.—to serve as the federal district.

French engineer Pierre Charles L’Enfant drew up a bold plan for the new city, but clashes with officials ended his role. A design contest followed, and Dr. William Thornton’s neoclassical vision won for the Capitol building.

On September 18, 1793, Washington donned ceremonial regalia and, with Masonic rites, laid the Capitol’s first cornerstone. It was both a literal foundation stone and a symbolic statement: America’s democracy was here to stay.

Construction was slow. The north wing opened in 1800, finally giving Congress a permanent meeting place. The south wing followed a decade later, allowing the House and Senate to move into their chambers.

Disaster struck in 1814 during the War of 1812, when British troops set fire to the Capitol. Only a rainstorm kept the building from being completely destroyed. Congress temporarily met in makeshift quarters until repairs were finished.

By the mid-1800s, the growing country needed a bigger Capitol. Expansions added wings and a new dome—the iconic cast-iron structure we recognize today. During the Civil War, work paused as Union troops used the building as a hospital and barracks.

The Capitol became more than just a workspace. Its art, architecture, and grand design—borrowed from classical Greece and Rome—were chosen to reflect the ideals of democracy, law, and civic duty.

Today the Capitol has over 540 rooms, 850 doors, and even 108 windows in the dome alone. It anchors a complex of congressional offices and libraries, visited by millions each year as both a seat of government and a living museum.

From Washington’s cornerstone to today, the Capitol has been scarred, rebuilt, and reimagined, yet it continues to stand as a reminder that democracy isn’t static—it’s built, tested, and restored by every generation.

Why It Matters

The laying of the Capitol’s cornerstone wasn’t just a construction milestone—it was a declaration that America would center its government in a permanent home. The Capitol remains a symbol of resilience, representing both the fragility and endurance of democracy itself.

SOURCE: THEHORN.NET

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Published by pat frederick

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16 thoughts on “The Cornerstone”

    1. Good Morning, Pat.

      Interesting article. Didn’t realize the dome of our Capitol was made from cast-iron. Guess I never really thought about it.

      Looks to be a clear day here. Dew point should be in the 50s, good day to finish mowing.

      Load of laundry washing. 👍

      God Bless 💖 and Thanks 😘

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  3. TheseTruths

    TheseTruths(@thesetruths)

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    Wolf

    September 18, 2026 00:28

    Minnesota’s Anti-ICE Fund Shut Down After More Than 200 Applications Flagged for Fraud

    A $2 million Minnesota taxpayer-funded program created to compensate businesses suffering losses from President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has been shut down after more than two-thirds of its applicants were flagged for potential fraud.

    Hennepin County, home to Minneapolis, established the fund for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s large-scale immigration enforcement operation launched in Minnesota in December 2025.

    The fund used taxpayer money to compensate businesses that were impacted by the immigration crackdown because they employed, or were run by, illegal aliens who were deported.

    But the county’s attempt to offset the economic effects of the federal immigration operation quickly ran into another problem already plaguing Minnesota: suspected fraud.

    Officials received roughly 300 applications and ultimately distributed about $500,000 to just 82 applicants.

    More than 200 applications were flagged for potential fraud, with officials discovering false information, apparently AI-generated applications, duplicated submissions, and businesses that did not exist when county employees went looking for them.

    “The fact that people, after all this fraud, felt that they could apply and get away with it, I think it’s a problem because clearly there’s no fear out there,” Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde said, according to Kare 11.

    “Until we get it where people fear things, then they’re gonna keep doing it.”

    More at the link.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. TheseTruths
    TheseTruths(@thesetruths)Offline
    Wolf
    September 18, 2026 00:33

    USDA Says Crackdown On SNAP Fraud Prevented $5.8 Billion In Taxpayer Losses

    …This was done through the shutdown of nearly 1,840 illegal SNAP devices that processed Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and the disqualification of 5,335 fraudulent retailers.

    …There are several ways an ineligible person can be counted in SNAP, including illegal immigrants being certified in error or by fraud, and deceased household members continuing to receive benefits.

    This comes just over three months after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report in early June about their discovery that 185,986 deceased people in 29 states were receiving food stamps.

    Trump issued an executive order in March 2025 directing federal agencies to obtain lawful and “unfettered access” to data from federally-funded programs such as SNAP to facilitate an audit of government spending.

    The SNAP integrity team was created in May 2025 to review state SNAP data against federal databases to identify potential fraud…

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. TheseTruths

    TheseTruths(@thesetruths)

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    Wolf

    September 18, 2026 00:40

    Julie Kelly:

    In a stunning political move, the chief judge of the Minneapolis federal bench disclosed the behind the scenes collaboration between all judges to thwart legal proceedings related to immigration cases this year.

    Patrick Schiltz, who admitted his longtime involvement in a pro-migrant nonprofit, reveals how judges remained on their cell phones nonstop to halt deportation proceedings. And rather than evaluate each case individually—as is required—the judges developed pro forma orders (as I predicted) to immediately stop cases in their tracks.

    This is something:

    Schiltz: “Some judges built templates of legal orders so they could respond quickly to some of the detention issues that were arising again and again.”

    She quotes Ryan Goodman:

    An alarm is being sounded for the American public.

    Sitting federal judges go on the record with the NYT.

    On threats to democracy by DOJ/administration actions.

    Includes 90 minute interview with conservative Judge Patrick Schiltz.

    Gift link:

    nytimes.com/2026/09/17/us/…

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. TheseTruths

    TheseTruths(@thesetruths)

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    Wolf

    September 18, 2026 01:03

    Edward Allen Paltzik, Attorney:

    I can now confirm that I am representing the courageous and heroic lone holdout juror from the Lindsay Clancy Trial. He is an American Hero and Champion of Justice.

    Please pray for him and help us protect him.

    This American Hero and Champion of Justice loves the United States of America as the greatest country in the world; cherishes our sacred Constitution as the pinnacle of human liberty; and supports our amazing leader, President Donald J. Trump, as a fellow defender of common-sense, liberty, and sanity.

    Rest assured that the evil people who have so viciously attacked this American Hero and Champion of Justice will be held accountable to the maximum extent of the law and beyond. In the meantime, though, he has persevered and remains utterly unbroken thanks to his devout Catholic Faith. As a devoted father and man of God, he will not be defeated or shattered by the wicked who wish harm upon him.

    He is presently safe and sound at an undisclosed secure location in a rural area of Northern New England.

    Lastly, this American Hero and Champion of Justice thanks all of you who have stood by him for your kindness, prayers, and support

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. so the jailer was FIRED…but not PROSECUTED!

    He lost 100 pounds in 5 months. He was starved and his water was cut off, forced to drink water out of his toilet. His death was ruled a homicide due to torture, apparently because of Race and the jail administrator was fired. That’s it.
    This is madness. https://t.co/PxRVs92Q20

    — Veterans and First Responders (@VetsUSAandUK) September 16, 2026

    pic.twitter.com/IfxksE8wdP

    — Veterans and First Responders (@VetsUSAandUK) September 16, 2026

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. John Chisum

    September 18, 2026 1:31 am

    I saw this story earlier today and felt compelled to share. Chinese gangsters run marijuana operations in Northern California . Not only are the grow operations massive but the use of Chinese imported pesticides and chemicals is large.

    On any map do search for Shasta Vista drive near Yreka. Note all the greenhouses and the size of the area. This is just one operation of course.

    https://www.city-journal.org/article/california-china-marijuana-siskiyou

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. Troublemaker10

    September 18, 2026 1:41 am

    I don’t even understand all these spider webs….

    ++++

    Kevin Bass
    @kevinnbass

    I have conducted an audit of Anthropic’s finances.

    What I have found is so shocking that I am calling for a Congressional investigation.

    Anthropic is not just seeking regulatory capture.

    It has built a regulatory capture machine that cannot be turned off.

    Structural financial incentives make it impossible for Anthropic — I call it the Anthropic Network — to turn off its own AI doom cycle.

    It starts with METR.

    Dario Amodei proposes “third-party evaluators” to assess the risk of Anthropic’s models.

    He proposes METR for this purpose.

    But METR is financially dependent on the Anthropic’s success — specifically, on the explosive growth of more than $7 billion dollars in Anthropic stock

    Cont reading…

    https://nitter.click/kevinnbass/status/2099621874279817638#m

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Jake

    September 18, 2026 6:35 am

    Law Firm Sues Dearborn, Mich. For Discrimination In Favor Of Islam
    https://thefederalist.com/2026/09/17/law-firm-sues-dearborn-mich-for-discrimination-in-favor-of-islam/

    The complaint says courts have recognized a pattern of Dearborn preferencing Islam over other religions, in violation of U.S. law.

    “The lawsuit alleges that City officials spent public funds and used City property to promote and celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan while refusing Cleveland’s repeated requests that the City extend the same recognition to Christian and Jewish holidays — and that Mayor [Abdullah] Hammoud and other City officials retaliated against Cleveland for speaking out about the disparity,” says an AFLC press release.

    About time, Democratic governments have been trying to make Islam the state religion for to long now.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. conflicting stories about a “prayer room” in a Texas school.
    FTA
    A Frisco ISD high school is facing scrutiny after a classroom was reportedly being used as a prayer room exclusively for Muslim students. 
    Earlier this month, RAIR Foundation USA reported that Liberty High School in Frisco ISD was using a classroom for Muslim students to pray for two hours a day. 
    “Frisco ISD taxpayers are paying for a Muslims-only prayer room inside Liberty High School,” RAIR Foundation USA reported. 
    According to an introduction video posted by the student club, called the Liberty Muslim Student Association, the room was “meant a [sic] space for Muslims to pray,” and “not a hang out spot,” and that “only Muslims will be allowed in.” RAIR Foundation USA reposted the video. The video has since been deleted.
    The video also stated that girls were not allowed to speak but were required to give their khutbahs, or formal religious sermons, to boys to deliver on their behalf. 
    The use of a classroom as a prayer space is not the only issue raised about the club. 
    The Liberty Muslim Student Association also planned to hold a prayer rug drive. According to the video, “Each rug you bring will count as one FISD volunteer hour.” 
    However, Frisco ISD’s 2026-27 academic guidelines state that donations of money or material goods are examples of activities that will not be awarded for community service hours. 

    https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/09/17/frisco-high-school-muslim-prayer-room/

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