[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 59 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2849-H2851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SAM HOUSTON

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1103) celebrating the life of Sam Houston on the 
217th anniversary of his birth, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1103

       Whereas Sam Houston was born at Timber Ridge Church, near 
     Lexington, Virginia, on March 2, 1793;
       Whereas Sam Houston as an enlisted soldier fought 
     courageously in the War of 1812, and after receiving three 
     near-mortal wounds at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, rose to 
     the rank of first lieutenant;
       Whereas Sam Houston studied law, was admitted to the bar in 
     1818, and commenced practice in Lebanon, Tennessee;
       Whereas Sam Houston became District Attorney in 1819, 
     Adjutant General of the State in 1820, and Major General in 
     1821;
       Whereas Sam Houston was elected to the United States 
     Congress for the State of Tennessee in 1823 and again in 1825 
     before serving as Governor from 1827 to 1829;
       Whereas Sam Houston moved to Oklahoma, served as an 
     advocate for Native American rights and a representative of 
     the Cherokee Nation, and then became a Cherokee citizen on 
     October 21, 1829;
       Whereas Sam Houston moved to Texas in 1835 and joined the 
     movement to establish separate statehood for Texas;
       Whereas Sam Houston was elected as the commander-in-chief 
     of the armies of Texas in 1836;
       Whereas, on April 21, 1836, Sam Houston's forces defeated 
     Mexican President and General Santa Anna, securing Texas' 
     long sought independence;
       Whereas the city of Houston, Texas, was named after then-
     President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston, on June 5, 
     1837;
       Whereas Sam Houston was elected the first President of the 
     Republic of Texas and served 2 terms, followed by 2 years 
     with the Texas Congress, after which he returned to serve as 
     President from 1841 to 1844;
       Whereas, after Texas joined the Union in 1845, Sam Houston 
     was elected Senator to the United States Congress and served 
     from 1846 to 1859;
       Whereas Sam Houston once again resigned his position with 
     Congress to serve as Governor of Texas from 1859 to 1861;
       Whereas Sam Houston was deposed on March 18, 1861, because 
     he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate 
     States;
       Whereas Sam Houston died in Huntsville, Texas, on July 26, 
     1863, and was then interred in Oakwood Cemetery;
       Whereas Sam Houston is the only person in United States 
     history to have been the Governor of 2 different States, 
     Tennessee and Texas;
       Whereas a memorial museum, U.S. Army base, national forest, 
     historical park, university, and the largest free-standing 
     statue of a United States figure recognize the life of Sam 
     Houston; and
       Whereas Sam Houston still stands as a symbol for Texas 
     solidarity and is one of the most significant individuals in 
     the history of Texas: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the life 
     and accomplishments of Sam Houston for his historical 
     contributions to the expansion of the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page H2850]]

Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and add any extraneous materials.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I present House Resolution 1103 for consideration. This 
resolution honors the life and accomplishments of Sam Houston for his 
historical contributions to the expansion of the United States.
  Introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Mike McCaul of 
Texas, on February 24, 2010, House Resolution 1103 was favorably 
reported out of the Oversight Committee on April 14, 2010, by unanimous 
consent. In addition, the legislation enjoys the support of over 50 
Members of Congress.
  As we all know, Sam Houston, a 19th century American soldier, 
statesman and politician, played a pivotal role in the development of 
the State of Texas as well as our collective national history. As a 
soldier enlisted in the 7th Infantry Regiment, Private and then-First 
Lieutenant Houston fought courageously in the Battle of 1812 during 
which he received nearly mortal wounds at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend 
in March of 1814.
  As a practicing attorney in the State of Tennessee, Mr. Houston 
served as a district attorney in 1819, as the State's adjutant general 
in 1820, and then as a major general in 1821.
  As a United States Representative elected to the 18th and 19th 
Congresses, Mr. Houston proudly represented the State of Tennessee 
before his service as the State's Governor from 1827 to 1829. As a 
subsequent resident of the State of Oklahoma, Mr. Houston served as a 
vocal advocate in support of Native American rights and in 1829 was 
recognized as a member of the Cherokee Nation by the Cherokee National 
Council. However, Mr. Houston is best known for his relentless efforts 
to secure statehood for Texas.
  In 1835, Mr. Houston moved to the Texas territory and promptly served 
as a member of the convention at San Felipe de Austin, a gathering of 
colonists designed to promote and establish separate statehood for 
Texas. One year later, Mr. Houston was elected to serve as commander in 
chief of the Texas army and in this capacity successfully led his 
volunteer Texas forces against those of Mexican General Antonio Lopez 
de Santa Ana in the Battle of San Jacinto. Notably, the battle 
culminated with the signing of the Treaty of Velasco, which recognized 
the Republic of Texas.
  In recognition of his service, Mr. Houston was subsequently elected 
to serve as the first President of the Texas Republic, a position that 
he held from 1836 to 1838 and again from 1841 to 1844. Fittingly, the 
city of Houston was named after the President of the Texas Republic in 
1837.
  Mr. Houston also served the Texas Republic as a member of the Texas 
Congress from 1838 to 1840, and upon Texas' admission as a State into 
the Union, served as a United States Senator from the 31st through the 
34th Congresses. Mr. Houston would also serve as Governor of the State 
of Texas from 1859 to 1861, making him the only person in the United 
States to ever have served as the Governor of two different States. 
Notably, Mr. Houston's tenure as a Texas Governor ended with his 
refusal to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy following Texas' 
secession from the Union, an act that Mr. Houston deemed illegal.
  Mr. Houston died on July 26, 1863, at the age of 70. Fittingly, his 
last words, as spoken to his wife, Margaret, were reportedly: ``Texas, 
Texas, Margaret . . . ''
  Mr. Speaker, let us honor the lasting contributions of Sam Houston to 
the State of Texas and our national history through the passage of this 
resolution, H. Res. 1103.
  I urge my colleagues to join Mr. McCaul of Texas in supporting H. 
Res. 1103.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution, and I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today in support of H. Res. 1103, 
introduced by a fellow Texan and colleague, Congressman Mike McCaul, 
honoring the life and accomplishments of Sam Houston for his historical 
contributions to the expansion of the United States.
  Sam Houston lived an amazing and vibrant life. Shortly after moving 
to Tennessee from his home in the State of Virginia, Sam was drawn to 
the Cherokee Indians, a tribe that would have a profound impact on his 
life.
  At the age of 19, Sam Houston enlisted in the military to fight the 
British in the War of 1812, where he distinguished himself for his 
bravery and was wounded several times in battle. After the war, his 
attention shifted to the study of law. In 1823, he was elected to the 
first of two terms here in this body, the United States Congress, 
before being elected Governor to the State of Tennessee in 1827. In 
1828, Houston resigned from Tennessee politics, returning to live with 
his longtime friends, the Cherokee Indians.
  In 1835, Sam Houston left the Cherokee and his life in Tennessee and 
moved to Texas, where he quickly gained notoriety for his leadership in 
seeking independence from Mexico. In the wake of defeat at the Alamo on 
April 21, 1836, Houston rallied the armies of Texas to victory, 
decisively defeating Santa Anna and the Mexican Army at the Battle of 
San Jacinto, securing independence for Texas and his heroic place in 
the Nation's history.
  Shortly after securing independence, Sam Houston was elected the 
first President of the Republic of Texas, beginning a long and 
successful career in Texas politics. He went on to serve a second term 
as President of the Republic before being elected as a United States 
Senator after statehood in 1845. In 1859, Houston continued his public 
service when he was elected Governor of the State of Texas and became 
the only person in U.S. history to serve as Governor in two States.
  Though sometimes embroiled in controversy, Sam Houston was a 
passionate, dedicated statesman who played an important role in shaping 
this great Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and 
honor the accomplishments of this important, if not heroic, figure in 
American history and the history of my home State, the great State of 
Texas.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 1103--Celebrating the life of Sam Houston on the 217th anniversary 
of his birth. Sam Houston was born March 2, 1793, in Tiber Ridge, 
Virginia.
  General Houston was an American statesman, politician, and soldier. 
He is a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as the 
1st and 3rd president of the Republic of Texas, as Senator after 
annexation, and finally as governor.
  In his early life, he moved to Tennessee, where he served in the 
military during the War of 1812 and later had a successful career in 
Tennessee politics. A fight with a Congressman led to his move to 
Texas, where he soon became a leader of the Texas Revolution.
  Houston attended the Convention of 1833, representing Nacogdoches, 
and supported independence from Mexico. He was made a Major General of 
the Texas Army in November 1835, then Commander-in-Chief in March 1836, 
at the convention where he signed the Texas Declaration of 
Independence.
  At the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, General Houston 
surprised General Santa Ana and the Mexican forces, and in less than 18 
minutes, the battle was over. General Santa Ana was forced to sign the 
Treaty of Velasco, granting Texas independence. During the battle 
General Houston was shot, shattering his ankle.
  The settlement of Houston was founded in August 1836 by the Allen 
brothers. It was named in Houston's honor and served as capital.
  Houston was twice elected president of the Republic of Texas. He 
served from October 1836 to December 1838, and again from December 1841 
to December 1844. While he initially sought annexation by the U.S., he 
dropped that hope during his first term.
  After the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845, Houston 
was elected to the U.S. Senate. He served from February 1846 until 
March 1859.
  He twice ran for governor of Texas, unsuccessfully in 1857 and 
successfully in 1859.

[[Page H2851]]

Despite Houston's being a slave owner and against abolition, he opposed 
the secession of Texas from the Union.
  Despite Houston's wishes, Texas seceded from the United States in 
February 1861 and joined the Confederate States of America in March 
1861. This act was soon branded illegal by Houston, but the Texas 
legislature nevertheless upheld the legitimacy of secession. The 
political forces that brought about Texas's secession also were 
powerful enough to replace the state's Unionist governor.
  To avoid bloodshed, Governor Houston chose not to resist, and instead 
retired to Huntsville, Texas, where he died before the end of the Civil 
War. Today, Governor Houston has a memorial museum, a U.S. Army base, a 
national forest, a historical park, a university, and the largest free-
standing statue of an American figure, in his honor.
  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, again I encourage my colleagues to join Mr. 
McCaul and Mr. Olson of Texas in supporting H. Res. 1103, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1103, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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