[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2238-H2239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SAN JACINTO DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue with a 
series of speeches designed to explain to my colleagues the history of 
my home State of Texas.
  On March 2 of this year I spoke to this body of the brave actions 
taken by 54 men who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, a 
document modeled after the one signed almost 60 years earlier by our 
Founding Fathers.
  I also spoke to my colleagues of the brave sacrifices of the 
defenders of the Alamo and of the massacre of Texas forces at Goliad. 
Six weeks later, on the banks of San Jacinto River, approximately 750 
Texans under General Sam Houston assembled, determined to avenge their 
brothers.
  On the morning of April 20, 1836, over 1,500 Mexican soldiers under 
General Santa Ana approached the Texans' position. Driving off by fire 
from the famous ``Twin Sisters'' cannon, he fell back to regroup.
  The Texans, inspired by their initial success, were champing at the 
bit. Houston, however, held them back, and sent his most trusted spy, 
Erastus ``Deaf'' Smith, with a few men to burn Vince's Bridge, thus 
cutting off the path of retreat for the Mexican Army. Mr. Speaker, 
Vince's Bridge is in the 29th Congressional District that I am proud to 
represent.
  On the 21st, today's anniversary, though, Houston was ready to 
strike. With the Mexican Army still in its camp, Houston gave the order 
to advance, and the Texans did not hesitate. I say ``Texans,'' Mr. 
Speaker, because that force was made up of a lot of new immigrants to 
Texas from the United States. Texas has always been an immigrant State.
  When within 70 yards the word ``fire'' was given, the Texan shouts of 
``Remember the Alamo'' and ``Remember Goliad'' rang along the entire 
line. Within a short time 700 Mexican soldiers were slain, with another 
730 taken as prisoners. The whole battle lasted less than 30 minutes.
  From that point on, Texas was firmly established in the community of 
nations, seeking recognition. For 10 years she would remain an 
independent nation, until President James K. Polk signed the treaty 
admitting Texas to the United States in 1845.
  A panel on the side of the monument at the San Jacinto battleground 
today underscores the importance of the battle after more than a 
century and a half of reflection: ``Measured by its results, San 
Jacinto was one of the most decisive battles of the world.''
  The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to 
the Mexican War in 1845, resulting in the acquisition by the United 
States of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, 
Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, at one time or another I am sure, coming from 
Texas, we claimed all those States as part of Texas, but they really 
were not. Almost one-third of the present area of the American Nation, 
nearly a million square miles, changed sovereignty starting with the 
battle of San Jacinto.
  The San Jacinto battlefield was in the 29th Congressional District 
until 1996 when the Federal courts changed our lines, and now it is in 
the 25th Congressional District.
  This major event in our history is remembered not only as a battle 
for Texas independence, but is a victory over freedom and dictatorship. 
Mr. Speaker, I hope the House and all of America will join those of us 
from Texas in celebrating that victory for freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following for the Record:

              [From the Houston Chronicle, Apr. 21, 1999]

                              San Jacinto


         a day to remember great, unvarnished history of texas

       ``Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the 
     decisive battles of the world.''
       ``So begins the simple inscription at the base of the 
     towering San Jacinto Monument. The obelisk, visible from the 
     modern glass castles of downtown Houston, holds its head high 
     over a few quiet, lowland acres at the confluence of Buffalo 
     Bayou and the San Jacinto River. There fate and the future 
     noisily and auspiciously crossed paths and swords on this 
     date in 1836.
       ``The freedom of Texas from Mexico,'' the inscription 
     continues, ``won here led to annexation and to the Mexican 
     War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of

[[Page H2239]]

     Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and 
     parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Almost one-
     third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a 
     million square miles, changed sovereignty.''
       That is more than worthy of note and remembrance.
       But, even unvarnished, Texas history is a magnificent story 
     in and of itself. And that is too often lost in these days of 
     headline news and semi-literacy and our natural preoccupation 
     with the present.
       When Gen. Sam Houston and Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, 
     and their respective armies, met on the field that day, the 
     combat lasted but 18 minutes--the killing went on for more 
     than two hours. Knowing and understanding the reasons why, 
     indeed the reasons there was a battle in the first place, 
     ought to be at least as much a part of modern Texans' 
     knowledge base as, say, what the weather might be tomorrow.
       But, sadly, it far too often is not. Yes, we remember the 
     Alamo, but too few of us these days can remember and recount 
     exactly why.
       And so, we pick a day of anniversary, a day of remembrance 
     to give more than just a passing thought to what and why and 
     how what we see before us, both the good and the bad, came to 
     be.
       We observe San Jacinto Day with good cause here in Texas, 
     our Texas.
                                  ____


                Ceremonies to Mark Battle of San Jacinto

       Chief Justice Tom Phillips of the Texas Supreme Court will 
     deliver the keynoted address today during a ceremony marking 
     the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto.
       The 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the San Jacinto Monument is to 
     honor the Texans who died April 21, 1836, when a small force 
     led by Sam Houston surprised and defeated a larger Mexican 
     force led by Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
       The Mexican leader fled during the battle but was captured 
     a short time later, leading to Texas' independence from 
     Mexico.
       Today's ceremony also will salute the 30th anniversary of 
     the modern-day Texas Army, which appears in costume at such 
     events and performs cannon and musket salutes.
       Musical entertainment will be provided by the Skylarks and 
     by K.R. Woods and the Fathers of Texas. A barbecue also is 
     planned, for which tickets are $10. Admission to the ceremony 
     is free.
       On Saturday, the San Jacinto Volunteers will present their 
     ninth annual re-enactment of the Battle of San Jacinto. The 
     living history camp will feature Texan and Mexican armies 
     beginning at 10 a.m., with uniformed characters demonstrating 
     camp cooking, candle and soap making, weapons and other 
     activities from the Texas Revolution era.
       A narrated ``battle'' is set for 3:30 p.m. with cannons 
     booming, muskets firing and battle drums echoing to signal 
     the clash of Texan and Mexican cavalry and infantry. The day 
     concludes with a re-enactment of Santa Anna's surrender to 
     Houston and a ceremony honoring those who died in the battle 
     163 years ago.
       The San Jacinto Battleground is on Texas 134, or 
     Battleground Road, north of Texas 225. For more information 
     call 281-479-2431.

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