[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E379-E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL T. McCAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 2005

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, March 2 marks a historic day for my home 
state of Texas and specifically for the people of my district living in 
Washington and Austin Counties. Today, Mr. Speaker we celebrate the 
birth of Texas and the place where our great state was born because 
right along the banks of the Brazos River, Texas declared its 
independence.
  Texas Independence day marks a time when Texans and Americans of 
today honor and celebrate the work and sacrifices of Texans generations 
ago, people who valiantly claimed their freedom from Mexico and sought 
out their own destiny governed by the laws of a true democracy, a 
constitution written by the people and the colors of their flag waving 
over what would become the free and independent nation of Texas. And I 
am proud to say this historic story of freedom, independence and 
democracy took place in two important places in the Tenth Congressional 
District of Texas, the district I am proud to say I represent.
  It's a history that started long before that early March day in 1836.
  Between 1820 and 1836 the Mexican Government offered Americans the 
opportunity to live and work in what was then the land of Texas under 
Mexican Rule. But these Americans, living under Mexico's government 
quickly found the spirit of freedom lacking. Mexican leaders, at that 
time, presumed they could dictate economic, social, even religious life 
for those living in Texas. They allowed the military to interfere in 
civil issues, trade even legal proceedings.
  The inspiring story of how the battle against this, then, anti-
democratic government began in what was then, the Stephen F. Austin 
Colony, the first colony of Texas, now known as Austin County, Texas. 
It was there that the first sparks of freedom flew from the spirits of 
men, tired of living under an intrusive and burdensome Mexican 
government. It was in the Austin Colony in 1835 that Texans first 
established a provisional government, with the intention of writing a 
declaration of independence soon after. With the Mexican Army intent on 
destroying any move towards Texas independence, the Consultation of 
1835, as it was known, adjourned without the organization needed to 
continue the cause for freedom.
  But the want for independence from Mexico did not die in that colony. 
Less than a year later, many of the same delegates present at the 
Consultation of 1835 arrived along the Brazos River, in the Village of 
Washington, just north of the Austin Colony.
  By the spring of 1836 the encroachments on basic freedoms had reached 
a point of action for many living in Mexico controlled Texas.
  They were simply fed up with such unnecessary and uncontrolled 
interference from a greedy government. The time for action was upon 
them.
  On March 1, 1836, 59 delegates hailing from all corners of Texas 
arrived at the then relatively unknown village of Washington right 
alongside the Brazos River.
  They met inside an unfinished frame building to decide the principals 
they would invoke in claiming their freedom from Mexico. And as these 
brave men began to construct the language which would declare their 
independence from Mexico, they were in fact constructing a document 
which very well may have served as their death warrants. For while 
their declaration of independence shouted freedom for the Texans, it 
also declared Mexico unfit to govern and the Mexican Army immediately 
began seeking retribution for this act of defiance.
  But like so many brave heroes before and after them, these 59 
delegates were willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom.
  It was a bloody and dramatic time for Texas. While the men along the 
Brazos River fought for the right words and ideals with which to claim 
Texas' independence, their fellow statesmen and warriors fought for 
their lives and freedom. For as the delegates along the Brazos River 
put pen to paper in writing Texas' declaration of independence men like 
Davey Crockett, James Bowie and William Travis fought to their deaths 
in fighting for Texas freedom at the Alamo.
  Despite the defeat at the Alamo, the revolution continued. In 1842 
Texas president, Sam Houston moved the nation's capital from Austin to 
the birthplace of Texas, Washington on the Brazos River.
  Three years later, by an act of Congress, the United States made 
Texas part of the American Union, and Texas became the 28th state of 
the United States of America.
  There can be no argument about the Lone Star State's contribution to 
American history, nor can there be any debate about that history's 
importance.
  We must always remember where that history began for Texas. Just like 
so many Americans travel to Philadelphia to witness the buildings and 
symbols involved in America's Declaration of Independence, thousands of 
people every year make the journey to Washington on the Brazos to 
understand the depth of history and events involved in Texas' 
Independence.
  For many Americans, this place has become a phrase acknowledging an 
event in Texas history long forgotten. But tonight we must remember 
Washington on the Brazos and Austin County as the places where the 
proud nation of Texas found life with a want for freedom and spirit for 
democracy.
  Texas will always have a long and storied history, which we can never 
forget. We must continue to remember the commitment of those men who 
started a new book in Texas history as they wrote the nation of Texas 
into independence.

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