Session 2000
Effective: March 10, 2000
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1819 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � A Resolution recognizing March 10 as Harriet Tubman Day.
� � � WHEREAS,� Harriet Tubman, who lived from 1821 to 1913, was
termed the Moses of American abolitionists and one of the most coura-
geous women in history. Born a slave in eastern Maryland, she escaped
to freedom on the underground railroad during the summer of 1849. Her
passage to freedom caused her to devote her life to sharing the taste of
freedom with others--a heroic calling for an individual who had no formal
education and never learned to read or write; and

� � � WHEREAS,� Harriet Tubman returned to the South on 19 occasions
to lead other slaves to freedom. She is credited with undertaking the most
hazardous journeys and leading about 300 individuals to freedom. A
bounty of $40,000, with a horrifying sentence of torture until death, was
offered for her capture--yet she was never captured and never lost a
"passenger" on the underground railroad; and

� � � WHEREAS,� During the Civil War she was attached to the Union
Army serving as a cook, nurse, scout for raiding parties and spy behind
Confederate lines. After the war she settled in Auburn, New York, and
continued to work for black freedom, the homeless and elderly, and for
education and human rights. Upon her death in 1913 she was buried with
full military honors. The citizens of Auburn raised a monument in her
memory and for many years maintained the Harriet Tubman Home for
needy blacks, which she had founded; and

� � � WHEREAS,� On March 10, 1990, the Harriet Tubman Historical So-
ciety sponsored the day to honor the contributions of Ms. Tubman. That
tribute has been recognized by the United States Congress, 25 states and
many cities and organizations. Accordingly, it is entirely appropriate that
the Senate of the state of Kansas, the citizens of which had an extensive
history of supporting the underground railroad through eastern Kansas,
recognize and honor this great humanitarian on March 10, Harriet Tub-
man Day: Now, therefore,

� � � Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas:�That we honor
this great American on her designated day and hope that her example
will cause all people to cherish freedom in all places and at all times; and

� � � Be it further resolved:�That the Secretary of the Senate be directed
to provide an enrolled copy of this resolution to Vivian Abdur-Rahim,
Executive Director, the Harriet Tubman Historical Society, P.O. Box
832127, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083.

Senate Resolution No. 1819 was sponsored by Senators Gooch and Jones.