PRINTER'S NO. 2716
No. 217 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY CIVERA, ADOLPH, MICOZZIE, GRUPPO, STAIRS, HAGARTY,
PETRONE, BILLOW, CESSAR, FAIRCHILD, PETRARCA, HERSHEY,
HARPER, BLAUM, ARMSTRONG, MARSICO, TIGUE, FARGO, B. SMITH,
HERMAN, ROBINSON, TRELLO, NYCE, PESCI, SCHULER, BUNT,
GERLACH, GIGLIOTTI, GEIST, HESS, PITTS, NAHILL, DEMPSEY,
MELIO, CLYMER, ULIANA, KING, SAURMAN, KAISER, CARLSON, VROON,
DeLUCA, McCALL, DERMODY, KASUNIC, JOSEPHS, STABACK, MARKOSEK,
NOYE, BATTISTO, BELARDI, DENT, COWELL, GAMBLE, SERAFINI,
KENNEY, WOZNIAK, LAUGHLIN, LAWLESS, OLASZ, SALOOM, ANGSTADT,
E. Z. TAYLOR, JOHNSON, O'BRIEN, ALLEN, TELEK, McHALE AND
TULLI, NOVEMBER 13, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, NOVEMBER 13, 1991
A RESOLUTION
1 Observing December 15, 1991, as "Bill of Rights Day" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, December 15, 1991, will be the Bicentennial of our
4 Bill of Rights, for on that day in 1791 the first ten amendments
5 became binding upon the several states and the Federal
6 Government; and
7 WHEREAS, Patrick Henry, a noble patriot and statesman, was
8 most singularly influential in getting a list of rights sent to
9 the various states for their ratification; and
10 WHEREAS, It is widely known that Patrick Henry was strongly
11 opposed to the ratification of the Constitution, but little
12 known that it was because there was no enumeration of these
13 rights; and
1 WHEREAS, Once the Constitution was ratified, he labored, even
2 to the detriment of his own health, to persuade men not to cast
3 it off but to push for the addition of those rights they wished
4 to see preserved; and
5 WHEREAS, Patrick Henry, who had no desire for personal
6 acclaim, had a holy vision and a burning desire that his
7 children and grandchildren should live freely, allowed to keep
8 the fruit of their labors without being subject to the whims of
9 a capricious monarch; and
10 WHEREAS, Patrick Henry, in response to a personal plea from
11 General George Washington, sent ammunition and supplies to the
12 starving and naked troops at Valley Forge; and
13 WHEREAS, As Governor of Virginia during the War for
14 Independence, Patrick Henry was responsible for the defense of
15 the entire western frontier, which in time became nearly the
16 entire length of the Mississippi River; and
17 WHEREAS, Those amendments commonly known as the Bill of
18 Rights are founded on the righteous principles of God's Holy Law
19 as found in the Bible, that cornerstone of our country's
20 heritage; and
21 WHEREAS, National recognition of Patrick Henry is long
22 overdue; therefore be it
23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives observe December
24 15, 1991, as "Bill of Rights Day" in Pennsylvania by expressing
25 our gratitude to the God of our fathers, and his Son, the Lord
26 Jesus Christ, for the blessings of civil and religious liberty,
27 and honor Patrick Henry for his monumental effort to obtain
28 these rights.
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