[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 103 (Friday, June 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, people ask me all the time, ``Do you miss 
being a judge?'' Usually my answer is, ``No, I enjoy representing the 
good folks of southeast Texas in Congress,'' but sometimes a case comes 
along that makes me wish I was back on the bench. Sunday, June 8th was 
one of those days. As I turned on the news and learned that some outlaw 
set fire to the Texas Governor's Mansion, my first thought was I hope 
they send him to my court. My close friend Alton said ``Get a Rope''.
  Of course we all know that everything is bigger and better in Texas, 
but as the news made headlines across the country so did a little Texas 
history. Our governor's mansion is registered as a National Historic 
Landmark and is the oldest governor's mansion west of the Mississippi 
and the fourth oldest in the country. Because Texas has the unique 
distinction of being an independent country and a state, the history of 
our governor's residence really started with the first home of the 
President of the Republic, however that home was short lived.
  Nine years after annexation in 1845, the Texas Legislature 
appropriated $14,500 to build a governor's mansion. The mansion was 
completed June 14, 1856 and Texas's fifth Governor, Elisha Marshall 
Pease and his family were the first residents. The historic Austin home 
beneath the oaks at the corner of 11th and Colorado has housed 43 Texas 
Governors, and two future Presidents, in its 151 years.
  One of the unique aspects of the Texas Governor's Mansion is that its 
structure has remained virtually unchanged. Under Governor Oscar 
Colquitt, an addition to the rear of the home was completed in 1914 and 
renovations over the years have left that floor plan intact for nearly 
a century. The Greek Revival architecture of the home, with its vast 
porches and floor-to-ceiling windows are all original to the home's 
initial construction, making it the oldest executive residence in the 
United States to function in its original configuration. I told you 
everything is better in Texas.
  After getting over the fact that I wasn't going to get to try this 
case and charge this villain with everything from arson to treason, I 
started thinking about my first visit to the mansion when I was 10 
years old. One of my heroes, as you all know, was General, President, 
and Governor Sam Houston--and I couldn't wait to walk through the halls 
that he walked and imagine that I was him. I remember standing at the 
foot of his bed thinking it was huge, thinking that General Sam really 
was larger than life.
  I was relieved to learn that Sam Houston's custom mahogany bed and 
most of the historical furnishings were previously removed for the 
renovations and spared from the fire. I support the efforts of Governor 
Perry, the Friends of the Governor's Mansion and all Texans that want 
to see the Governor's Mansion rebuilt and restored to its former glory. 
And, I envy the judge that tries the outlaw that recklessly destroyed 
part of our great state's history.
  The last scoundrel to desecrate a Texas landmark got nine years in 
the penitentiary. Back in 1989, a man by the name of Paul Cullen 
poisoned the great ``Treaty Oak.'' Of course, I promptly volunteered to 
try that case as well. The Treaty Oak is the famed site in Austin where 
Stephen F. Austin signed a treaty with the Lipan Apaches and is thought 
to be more than 500 years old.
  In a deliberate effort to destroy the tree in some kooky scheme, 
Cullen poisoned it with enough pesticides to kill a hundred trees. And 
as most criminals do, he bragged about his crime which resulted in his 
swift arrest and incarceration. The nation was stunned that we sent him 
to prison for trying to kill a tree, but the Tree was a symbol of 
Texas.
  Fortunately the Treaty Oak survived the attack and while she may not 
stand as mighty as before, she continues to hang in there as a symbol 
of strength and perseverance. We rebuilt the Capitol after it was 
destroyed by fire in 1991 and the Mansion will live to see another day 
as well. As for the traitorous arsonists, well that is yet to be seen. 
There's a reason for the saying--``Don't mess with Texas!''
  And that's just the way it is.




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