III 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. CON. RES. 49 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 26, 2010 Mr. Burris (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued to honor the life of Elijah Parish Lovejoy.

Whereas Elijah Parish Lovejoy was an advocate for the abolition of slavery and, as editor of the St. Louis Observer, wrote a series of editorials in which he strongly condemned the practice of slavery and supported efforts toward emancipation; Whereas after being forced to move his printing press across the Mississippi River to Alton, Illinois, Lovejoy became the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery in 1837 and the first pastor of the present-day College Avenue Presbyterian Church; Whereas on the night of November 7, 1837, Lovejoy was killed by a pro-slavery mob while he attempted to defend his press, a machine that came to serve as a symbol for the abolition of slavery; Whereas the murder of Lovejoy resulted in a great strengthening of abolitionist sentiment and is recognized as one of the key events that led to the Civil War; Whereas Lovejoy gave his life in defense of freedom and equality, two traits that define America; and Whereas the Elijah P. Lovejoy Memorial asks that a postage stamp be issued to honor the life of Elijah Parish Lovejoy and to commemorate the 175th anniversary of his death: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of Congress that— (1)the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp honoring the life of Elijah Parish Lovejoy and commemorating the 175th anniversary of his death; and (2)the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.