[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FRANCE RECOGNIZES TEXAS AS AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Texas is distinctive in many ways. 
Texas was an independent nation for nine years. In fact, some Texans 
still think we're an independent country.
  Texas had gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and had immediately 
set up a republic. The reason for the call for independence was because 
Mexico had abolished its democracy and set up a dictatorship with Santa 
Anna as the Supreme Dictator. Texans and Tejanos--Mexican or Spanish 
person born in Texas--were determined not to live under an imperial 
dictatorship and went to war with Mexico to gain independence. This was 
a fight for liberty. Independence was gained on April 21, 1836, at the 
Battle of San Jacinto where General Sam Houston and his boys defeated a 
superior Mexican army under the leadership of Santa Anna.
  After Texas set up a government, it then built an army and a navy. 
Texas then sought official recognition of the Republic of Texas from 
other nations.
  On this day, September 25, 1839, King Louis Philippe of France 
formally recognized the Republic of Texas. This was the first country 
after the United States to recognize the republic. This treaty allowed 
Texas commerce to be admitted to France on a most favored nation basis. 
Great Britain soon followed in recognizing Texas as an independent 
nation. Texas would proceed to engage in commerce with the United 
States, Mexico, France, and Great Britain.
  Dubois De Saligny of France was appointed as charge d'affaires and 
soon moved to Austin. He bought 21 acres just east of the Texas Capitol 
in Austin and began construction of the house known today as the French 
Legation. Today, there is a similar site where the Texas Legation was 
in Paris, France. The French residence is now a historical site in 
Texas. It acts as a reminder that Texas was once a country.
  And that's just the way it is.

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