GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE DESERVES TO BE IMPEACHED

THE HISTORY OF THE FIRELANDS

In the heart of America's struggle for independence, the Connecticut colony stood as a beacon of support for the Continental Army. In those pivotal days of the Revolutionary War, the English Crown, recognizing the vital aid supplied by the Puritans living in Connecticut, sought to stifle the rebels' lifeline. Nearly 60% of food, clothing, guns, and ammunition were supplied by the Puritans in Connecticut to the Continental Army.

The English Crown, desperate for a swift victory, made a fateful decision to suspend colonial law, granting General Benedict Arnold and his troops the license to ride into Connecticut and slaughter its residents. What ensued was a tragic chapter in American history—peaceful Puritans, who had tirelessly supplied the Continental Army, faced unspeakable horrors as their industrious cities were burnt to the ground. The English forces and German Dragoons, under Arnold's command, unleashed devastation upon these communities, leaving a trail of destruction and despair. This cemented Benedict Arnold’s place in history and is why today most Americans know that treachery and being a traitor is synonymous with Benedict Arnold.

Amid the ashes and devastation, the Connecticut Assembly after the revolutionary war took decisive action. In 1792, recognizing the immense suffering of the fire-stricken, they granted 500,000 acres as restitution—henceforth known as "The Firelands." This was the very Western end of the Connecticut Western Reserve. This act of compensation aimed to ease the burdens of those who had endured immense loss in service of the revolutionary cause.

The spirit of Connecticut persevered beyond its borders. The unexplored Connecticut Western Reserve beckoned, drawing settlers seeking a new life and new opportunities. Led by pioneers like Moses Cleaveland, these brave souls ventured into what would become Ohio, carving out a new land reminiscent of their New England roots. The northeastern stretch of present-day Ohio soon bore the mark of "New Connecticut," a land infused with the heritage and architecture of its predecessors.

The legacy of "The Firelands" resonates deeply in the fabric of Ohio's history, shaping its laws and governance. The solemn lessons learned from that period prompted a profound commitment to protecting against the overreach of executive power as the English Crown did when they suspended Colonial Law. The Firelands' ordeal inspired safeguards enshrined in eight State Constitutions, including the Ohio Constitution's Article 1, Section 18, ensuring that only the Ohio General Assembly wields the authority to suspend laws—a power vested in emergencies to preserve life and limb, not to trample upon the rights of its citizens.

This fundamental principle extends to our present-day understanding. Suspending a law is not tantamount to repealing it; rather, it's a temporary measure, valid only until the end of the General Assembly's term, executed solely in emergencies. It's a power designed to protect, not to circumvent due process or equal application of the law.