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
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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.
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