[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2240]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY

  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I want to take a few minutes to talk 
about Texas Independence Day. On this day in 1836, delegates from 59 
Texas settlements signed a declaration of their right to live in 
liberty, and to take charge of their own destiny.
  The document they produced shares much in common with the Declaration 
signed in Philadelphia six decades earlier. For example, both sets of 
Founders believed in fundamental human rights, including the right to 
address their government for grievances.
  Both groups of Founders insisted on the obligation to change their 
form of government if it trampled on those rights.
  Both groups of Founders created new nations and have been honored by 
successive generations for creating legacies of liberty.
  Of course, there were differences between the conventions of 1776 and 
1836, between Philadelphia and Washington-on-the-Brazos. For one thing, 
the Texans took action quickly. They adopted their declaration on the 
second day of their convention. They acted quickly because they knew 
the forces of tyranny were already in the field and at that moment were 
trying to crush their freedoms.
  Less than 200 miles to the west, Santa Anna's army was laying siege 
to the Alamo. Its young commander, William Barret Travis, had sent out 
an inspiring letter 6 days earlier. In it he wrote:

       Fellow citizens and compatriots, I am besieged by a 
     thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna.
       The enemy has demanded a surrender. . . . otherwise, the 
     garrison are to be put to the sword. . . . I have answered 
     the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves 
     proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat.

  History tells us that death came to the defenders of the Alamo. But 
soon victory came for the people of Texas. On April 21 of that year, 
Sam Houston and about 900 Texas soldiers defeated the much larger 
Mexican army at the battle of San Jacinto. By this victory, Texans won 
the independence they had declared less than 2 months earlier.
  Sam Houston, the commander of those troops and commander in chief of 
the battle at San Jacinto, served as a Congressman from Tennessee, he 
served as Governor of Tennessee, and after the battle of San Jacinto, 
he went on to be elected to the Republic of Texas and became one of the 
first Texans to serve in the Senate in the seat I currently occupy.
  I believe that he and the other founders of our Republic and of our 
great State would be proud of the 24 million Americans who call Texas 
home. They would be proud that Texas remains a land of opportunity, and 
that we are outperforming the Nation in job creation. They would be 
proud of the fact that Texas remains a welcoming State for pioneers of 
all stripes, and we have led the Nation in population growth over the 
last 2 years, as people have voted with their feet and moved to the 
land of opportunity, otherwise known as Texas.
  They would be proud that even during a severe recession we continue 
to build businesses, raise families, and make our communities even 
better places to live. Just like the founding generation, we are 
showing the world that, when faced with adversity, Texans do not 
retreat, we reload.
  In honor of the founders of the Republic of Texas, and all who are 
free because of their vision and sacrifice, I say: God bless Texas and 
may God bless the United States of America.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded; I ask unanimous consent that we 
reserve the Republican time and that I be able to speak for 2 minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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