[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TREATIES OF VELASCO

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on May 14th, 1836, Texas officially 
became a free and independent nation.
  After the decisive victory at San Jacinto a few weeks earlier, 
interim Texas president David G. Burnett met with the defeated Antonio 
Lopez de Santa Anna in the town of Velasco.
  Under the heat of the Texas sun, the two leaders signed treaties on 
behalf of their governments. Little known to the general public, two 
treaties were signed. The first would be released to the public, with 
the second secretive treaty only to be released once the first treaty 
was fulfilled.
  The public treaty forced Santa Anna to withdraw his forces from Texas 
and forbade him from attacking Texas again. Additionally, he promised 
to restore confiscated property to Texans that had been taken by his 
forces during the campaign.
  The second, secret agreement would literally go on to shape Texas as 
we know and love her today. The treaty held that the Rio Grande River 
would officially become the border between Texas and Mexico. Santa Anna 
also agreed to the arrangement of a treaty of commerce between his 
country and the new Republic of Texas as well as the establishment of 
diplomatic missions in both countries.
  Mr. Speaker, this treaty represents an important moment in the 
history of Texas. Following the example of George Washington, who 
deferred to the judgement of the civilian government rather than 
dictating terms as commander-in-chief of the army, General Sam Houston 
refused to engage Santa Anna himself in talks about the treaty. Rather, 
he fulfilled his legal obligation and insisted that the Mexican leader 
speak only with the Texas government about the terms of the treaty.
  By keeping his nerve, General Houston put the Texas Republic in a 
position to negotiate a meaningful and lasting peace with their Mexican 
adversaries. Sure enough, Texas got exactly what it wanted in the 
Treaty. The grand Republic of Texas sprung to life, as an independent, 
sovereign nation.
  Mr. Speaker, as a resident and representative of some of the 
residents of the city named after the Founding Father of Texas, it 
brings me great pride to recognize the Treaties of Velasco not only as 
an important event for the state of Texas but also for the United 
States as a whole.
  And that is just the way it is.

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