[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1729-S1730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate an 
important point in our history and that is the 165th anniversary of 
March 2, 1836, commonly known as Texas Independence Day.
  Each year, I look forward to March 2. This is a special day for 
Texans, a day

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that fills our hearts with pride. On March 2, 165 years ago, a solemn 
convention of 54 men, including my great, great grandfather Charles S. 
Taylor, met in the small settlement of Washington-on-the-Brazos. There 
they signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. The declaration 
stated:

       We, therefore . . . do hereby resolve and declare . . . 
     that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign 
     and independent republic.

  At the time, Texas was a remote territory of Mexico. It was 
hospitable only to the bravest and most determined of settlers. After 
declaring our independence, the founding delegates quickly wrote a 
constitution and organized an interim government for the newborn 
republic.
  As was the case when the American Declaration of Independence was 
signed in 1776, our declaration only pointed the way toward a goal. It 
would exact a price of enormous effort and great sacrifice. My great, 
great grandfather was there, signing the Texas Declaration of 
Independence. As most of the delegates did, he went on eventually to 
fight in the Battle of San Jacinto, and Texas would finally become an 
independent nation.
  He didn't know it at the time, but all four of his children who had 
been left back at home in Nacogdoches died trying to escape from the 
Mexican troops who they feared were coming after them.
  This was known as the ``runaway scrape,'' when the women and children 
in the Nacogdoches Territory fled toward Louisiana because they feared 
Indians and Mexican troops, and they were trying to go to safety. But 
the rigors of the trip were very harsh and all four of their children 
were dead when he returned.
  Fortunately, he and his wife, my great, great grandmother, had nine 
more children. But it is just an example of the sacrifices that were 
made by people who were willing to fight for something they believed 
in. That, of course, was freedom.
  While the convention sat in Washington-on-the-Brazos, 6,000 Mexican 
troops held the Alamo under siege, challenging this newly created 
republic.
  Several days earlier, from the Alamo, Col. William Barrett Travis 
sent his immortal letter to the people of Texas and to all Americans. 
He knew the Mexican Army was approaching and he knew that he had only a 
very few men to help defend the San Antonio fortress. Colonel Travis 
wrote:

       Fellow Citizens and Compatriots: I am besieged with a 
     thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have 
     sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours 
     and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded surrender at 
     discretion, otherwise, the garrison is to be put to the 
     sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with 
     a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly over the 
     wall. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then I call on you 
     in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, of everything dear to 
     the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. 
     The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt 
     increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If 
     this call is neglected I am determined to sustain myself as 
     long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets 
     what is due his honor and that of his country--Victory or 
     Death.--William Barrett Travis, Lt. Col. Commander.

  What Texan or otherwise can fail to be stirred by Colonel Travis' 
resolve. In fact, Colonel Travis' dire prediction came true, 4,000 to 
5,000 Mexican troops did lay siege to the Alamo.
  In the battle that followed, 184 brave men died in a heroic but vain 
attempt to fend off Santa Anna's overwhelming army. The Alamo, as we 
all in Texas know, was crucial to Texas independence because those 
heroes at the Alamo held out for so long that Santa Anna's forces were 
battered and diminished. Gen. Sam Houston gained the time he needed to 
devise a strategy to defeat Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto 
just a month or so later on April 21, 1836. The Lone Star was visible 
on the horizon at last.
  Each year on March 2, there is a ceremony at Washington-on-the-Brazos 
State Park where there is a replica of the modest cabin where the 54 
patriots pledged their lives, honor, and treasure for freedom.
  Every year, in, on, or around March 2, I read Colonel Travis' letter 
to my colleagues in the Senate. This is a tradition started by the late 
Senator John Tower, my friend. This is a reminder to all of us of the 
pride that Texans share in our history and in being the only State that 
came into the Union as a republic.
  I am pleased to continue the tradition started by my friend, Senator 
Tower, because we do have a unique heritage in Texas where we fought 
for our freedom. Having grown up in the family and hearing the stories 
of my great-great-grandfather and my great-great-grandmother and her 
heroism as well as his, it was something that was ingrained in us: 
fighting for something we believe is right and for maintaining the 
vigil for freedom throughout our country to this day.
  It is very important we remember the people who sacrificed, the 184 
men who died at the Alamo, the men who died at Goliad later that same 
month, and those 54 men who met at Washington-on-the-Brazos putting 
their lives in danger as well by signing that declaration of 
independence and becoming traitors for a cause. Their deaths gave birth 
to Texas independence, and we became a nation, a status we enjoyed for 
10 years before we entered the United States as a State.
  I might add, we entered the Union by a 1-vote margin in the House and 
a 1-vote margin in the Senate. In fact, we were originally going to 
come into the United States through a treaty, but the two-thirds vote 
could not be received in the Senate for ratification. Therefore, 
President John Tyler, for whom one of our great cities in Texas is 
named, introduced the resolution into Congress. He said: No, we will 
pass a law to invite Texas to become a part of our Union. And that law 
passed by 1 vote in the House and 1 vote in the Senate.
  I am very pleased Senator Tyler thought enough of us to ask us to 
join the Union and fight for our ability to do that. We have 
contributed a lot to the United States, and we are very proud of our 
heritage and the history of fighting for freedom that has been passed 
through the generations in my family, as well as in the families of so 
many Texans.
  I am pleased to commemorate our great heritage and the history of 
Texas--Texas the republic and Texas the State.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bunning). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce some legislation 
which I send to the desk.
  THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado is recognized.
  Mr. ALLARD. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Allard pertaining to the introduction of S. 425 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be 
allowed to proceed for 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Nelson of Florida pertaining to the introduction 
of legislation is are located in today's Record under ``Statements on 
Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest 
the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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