[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2966]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              172ND ANNIVERSARY OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I rise today because it is the 172nd 
anniversary of Texas Independence Day.
  I wish to take a moment to read a letter that is such an important 
part of the history of Texas. It is the letter of William Barrett 
Travis from the Alamo. This is a tradition I have continued that was 
started by my colleague and friend, Senator John Tower, to commemorate 
Texas Independence Day every year, which is March 2. Now, of course, 
March 2 was yesterday, which is Sunday, so I always try to do it as 
close to March 2 as I can, as Senator Tower did when he was serving in 
this body.
  The Texas Declaration of Independence was a document that was signed 
by, among others, my own great, great grandfather, Charles S. Taylor, 
as well as his great friend, Thomas Rusk, who became one of the first 
two Senators from Texas and whose seat I hold today. They both hailed 
from Nacogdoches, which is the oldest town in Texas. It is the town 
where my mother grew up and where my great, great grandfather was a 
delegate to the convention that declared independence from Mexico for 
the territory that was Texas. It is a historic time for Texas. We 
celebrate Texas Independence Day every single year because we know 
fighting for freedom has made a difference in what Texas is. We love 
our history. We fought for freedom and we were a republic, an 
independent nation for 10 years. Then, we came into the United States 
under a treaty as a State.
  The defense of the Alamo by 189 courageous men, who were outnumbered 
10 to 1, was a key battle in the Texas revolution. The sacrifice of COL 
William Barrett Travis and his men made possible GEN Sam Houston's 
ultimate victory at San Jacinto, which secured independence for Texas. 
That is where Santa Anna, the general in charge of the Mexican Army, 
formally surrendered and that was end of the fight for Texas 
independence.
  Colonel Travis wrote to his countrymen a letter asking for 
reinforcements:

       Fellow citizens and compatriots: I am besieged by a 
     thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have 
     sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours 
     and have not lost a man--the enemy has demanded a surrender 
     at discretion; otherwise, the garrison is to be put to the 
     sword if the fort is taken. I have answered the demands with 
     a cannon shot and our flag still waves proudly from the wall. 
     I shall never surrender or retreat.
       Then, I call on you in the name of liberty, of patriotism 
     and of everything dear to the American character, to come to 
     our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving 
     reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to 3,000 or 
     4,000 in 4 or 5 days. If this call is neglected, I am 
     determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like 
     a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and 
     that of his country--victory or death.
       William Barrett Travis, LT. COL. Commander.

  That was the letter he wrote from the Alamo. He did not get 
reinforcements. Those brave 189 men did, in fact, fight against what is 
estimated to be 4,000 or 5,000 Mexican soldiers, but they held long 
enough for GEN Sam Houston to muster his strength and add to his Army. 
Then, about a month later, in April, the San Jacinto battle did take 
place against the Mexican Army and Santa Anna surrendered. So it was an 
important part in Texas history which we value and celebrate very 
thoroughly every March 2nd. I will continue the tradition of Senator 
Tower as long as I am in the Senate, and I hope it can continue.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Illinois is 
recognized.

                          ____________________