PRINTER'S NO. 1449
No. 136 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, SCHULER, MAITLAND, ALLEN, ARMSTRONG, M. BAKER, BARD, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE, CLARK, L. I. COHEN, COLEMAN, COSTA, CREIGHTON, DeWEESE, D. EVANS, FAIRCHILD, FLEAGLE, FRANKEL, GEIST, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HORSEY, JAMES, KIRKLAND, LEH, MANDERINO, McCALL, BELARDI, BROWNE, CAPPABIANCA, CLYMER, COLAFELLA, CORRIGAN, COY, DALEY, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, FICHTER, FORCIER, FREEMAN, GEORGE, HARHAI, HERMAN, HESS, HUTCHINSON, JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, MANN, McNAUGHTON, MELIO, PIPPY, READSHAW, ROBINSON, ROHRER, RUBLEY, SATHER, B. SMITH, STABACK, STETLER, SURRA, TIGUE, TRICH, WATERS, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD, ORIE, PISTELLA, ROBERTS, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAMUELSON, SAYLOR, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STEELMAN, STRITTMATTER, THOMAS, TRAVAGLIO, WALKO, WATSON AND WOJNAROSKI, APRIL 3, 2001
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 3, 2001
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating April 4, 2001, as "Thaddeus Stevens Remembrance Day" 2 in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, Thaddeus Stevens' courageous life as a lawyer, 4 Pennsylvania State Representative, United States Congressman, 5 iron manufacturer, abolitionist, community benefactor and leader 6 in the Underground Railroad is worthy of remembrance throughout 7 our Commonwealth; and 8 WHEREAS, As an Anti-Masonic member of the General Assembly of 9 this Commonwealth from 1833 to 1841 representing Adams County, 10 Thaddeus Stevens was well known for his commitment to free 11 public schools, internal improvements, banks and especially
1 abolition; and 2 WHEREAS, Thaddeus Stevens was elected first as a Whig member 3 of Congress from Lancaster in 1848 and later as a Republican; 4 and 5 WHEREAS, Thaddeus Stevens served in Congress until his death 6 on August 11, 1868; and 7 WHEREAS, As a founder of the Republican Party and while a 8 member of Congress Thaddeus Stevens opposed the expansion of 9 slavery and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 while championing 10 tariffs to protect manufacturers from unfair foreign 11 competition; and 12 WHEREAS, Throughout the Civil War and Reconstruction as a 13 leader of the Radical Republicans in Congress Thaddeus Stevens 14 was a champion of abolition who fought for the rights of freed 15 slaves and advocated tough requirements for readmission of 16 Southern states after the Civil War had ended; and 17 WHEREAS, The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology was 18 founded to provide solid industrial education to all 19 Pennsylvania citizens regardless of race or color and is a 20 living monument to his life; and 21 WHEREAS, When in failing health in 1868, Thaddeus Stevens 22 requested that he be buried among African-Americans in 23 Lancaster, to demonstrate his commitment to freedom, justice and 24 racial equality; and 25 WHEREAS, Thaddeus Stevens had the words "Equality of man 26 before his Creator" carved on his tombstone; and 27 WHEREAS, Thaddeus Stevens was born on April 4, 1792; 28 therefore be it 29 RESOLVED, That April 4, 2001, be designated as "Thaddeus 30 Stevens Remembrance Day" in Pennsylvania, a day to remember the 20010H0136R1449 - 2 -
1 conscience and convictions of one of the most famous of 2 Pennsylvania's citizens, a true champion of racial equality and 3 public education and a dedicated public servant who exemplified 4 service and self-sacrifice to this Commonwealth and the United 5 States; and be it further 6 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of Education ensure that all 501 7 public school districts of this Commonwealth commemorate the 8 life and contributions of Thaddeus Stevens to public education 9 and racial equality on April 4, 2001. C19L82BIL/20010H0136R1449 - 3 -