Texas Independence Day

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Sylvilagus Aquaticus

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Today, March 2, is the anniversary of the day Texans declared their independence from the despotic rule of Santa Ana and Mexico.

Two weeks ago I was in San Antonio and had the honor of visiting the shrine of the Alamo, 'the modern Thermopylae' as it was called in some accounts of the day. As a 5th generation native Texan- my great-great grandfather was born April 4, 1836- I was overtaken by a profound sadness while inside the chapel of the Alamo for the loss of so many Texans...anglo and latino alike, who fought to buy time for Houston's army to assemble and for the new Texas republican government to escape the oncoming Mexican army.

These men stood in the face of an army they knew would sweep over them. They bought the time for victory with their lives. If you ever have a chance to see the Alamo, do so.

My fellow Texians, Huzzah! And remember the Alamo!

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
I can't go to San Antonio without visiting the Alamo. It is almost a sacred experience each time I go. I just can't imagine what kind of courage it took to stay and fight KNOWING it would mean certain death. I hope that their courage and sacrifice are never forgotten.

REMEMBER THE ALAMO!
 
I read somewhere Texas never did really become part of the U.S... what was that all about? Or just B.S.?
 
When Texas joined the Union in 1845, it reserved the right in the state constitution to secede from that union, or to divide into 5 separate States within the Union.

Think about it...10 Texan senators. :D


Unfortunately, the state constitution was rewritten in 1870 when we rejoined the Union and it's a very specific document, not a loose framework like we had previously- that's why we have to vote on so many constitutional amendments in our general elections...dang Reconstructionists...at least Richard Coke ran that carpetbagger Davis out of the govenor's office.

http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/exec/governors/01.html


Regards,
Rabbit.
 
Rabbit, do you have a copy of the original text to share with us? I have never found an original document (or text) that showed we held the right to secede. I believe you are referring to a very popularized myth.

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/texas.asp

Now I did find this...
http://www.wepin.com/rotstuff/Texas Constitution of 1845.htm

I scanned it and did not find anything giving Texas the right to secede. Did I miss something?

Check #13. We keep the right to keep and bear arms...in defense of the state.
 
I visited the Alamo about five years ago and found it very moving. I particularly enjoyed the report of the comment Jim Bowie's mother made upon hearing of his death. Something along the lines of "I bet the didn't find any bullets in his back".
 
Actually, until the War of Northern Aggression, there was an implication that any state could secede. The states had to agree to join the Union in the first place. Up until that time most folks considered the Federal government's job was to regulate interstate trade and provide for the common defense of the states. The state governments were to be relatively "sovereign" in their own affairs.

(My name reference to the Civil War is meant to be mild humor, not a call to start the war again).
 
They didn't find any bullets in Bowie's back, but not necessarily because he was a brave man who would not run from a fight.

http://www.lone-star.net/mall/texasinfo/alamo-battle.htm


On February 24 Travis assumed full command when Bowie fell victim to a mysterious malady variously described as "hasty consumption" or "typhoid pneumonia." ...

Bowie, too ravaged by illness to rise from his bed, found no pity. Mexican soldiers slaughtered him with their bayonets
Click to expand...
.
 
We think about leaving the Union from time to time - especially when there is a Democrat in the White House.
 
I'm from Corpus, spent the last several years in SA. I sure do miss home :eek:
 
Nope, I don't have a link to that information handy, but it's a frequent topic of conversation in truly enlightened Texas history classes and among "old-school Texians" :D

I've known this by anecdote for decades, though.

"Texas...scaring the beejeezus out of lesser states since 1845"

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
Okay, so I am going to guess that the old school truly enlightened Texas History folks are caught up in folklore as much as anyone else given the fact that the original Constitution does not actually have passages saying that we reserve the right to secede. So that is just another myth and the rewriting of 1870 had nothing to do with the fact that the passage allowing for such a separation isn't present. It wasn't present in 1845.

I think what your truly enlightened old school Texas historians were thinking about was the "Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States
Approved March 1, 1845" (http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/annexation/march1845.html), but that didn't allow for anything concerning secession either.

As a product of annexation, Texas did give up territory to the US government, the territorial holdings of Texas inclusive of lands that are now part of 5 additional states Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Wyoming and in exchange, the US assumed all of the Republic of Texas' debts. http://www.answers.com/topic/republic-of-texas

Sorry Rabbit, but while it is a romantic myth, it ain't true.
 
Tourists of Texas would also do well to visit San Jacinto, and become familiar with Houston's brilliant (or lucky) vitroy over Santa Ana there. A story as good as the Alamo. Texans take it as proof that God was on Our Side.

I studied Texas history in 4th grade in a Houston school taught by a woman who loved Texas history like whe loved her kids, and had a great gift for story telling. It was better than going to the action movies every day in the theatre.
 
Texas Indepence Day

May the heroic men of the Alamo rest in peace! Ditto the slaughtered men at Goliad, and the Great General Sam Houston and his men who beat the enemy into the ground and the bayou at San Jacinto. And a cheer goes out to the past
Border Patrol, the Texas Rangers, and the Border Patrol of today who though under staffed guard our Rio Grand Border.

I am sorry to not brag on our politicians, we have the best that money can buy, and it generally does. Spell that lobbiests. :)
 
Yeah, DNS, it's not rooted in textual fact, but it still makes for a great story. :) Thanks for the links. It's a great reference and an interesting read.

Remember the Alamo!
Remember Goliad!

Where's A. W. Damron when I need him?

'scuse me- I gotta go watch Giant and The Alamo (the John Wayne version...I know) again. :evil:

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
When I was a kid( I am now 55) ,we used to celebrate Texas Independence Day. Now everybody else gets a day with a parade or a whole month of recognition and March 2 hardly gets a passing mention. It's good to see I'm not the only one who remembers the Alamo.
 
Celebretory Road Trip

on Saturday, The Houston Miata Club is taking a 169 mile road trip in celebration of Texas Independence Day. We will visit Washington on the Brazos state park for the celebration there then down Sceinc 390 through Independence and past the original location of Baylor University, then back to Chappell Hill for food, antiques and cigars at Texana Cigar shop. The 169 miles is the same number as the number of years since independence.

..wiley
seven generation a Texan
Racing Miata's; Good Cigars and Big Guns.
Houston, TX
 
For an exceptional biography of Sam Houston check out "Sword of San Jacinto" by Marshal de Bruhl. I just read it a few weeks ago and it was quite good. A lot of interesting background about Texas that I wasn't familiar with.
 
From what I understand (and have read in more than a few places), after the Civil War ended, we rejoined the U.S. under some special conditions:

1. Texas joined as a state but retained the rights of a sovereign nation. Thus, we get to fly our flag at equal height with the American flag (everybody else has to fly below it.)

2. We have to right to break up into 5 states if we so choose. Which would totally s**** over the U.S. Senate.

The secession thing is not explicitly clear and is considered by legal experts to be a very murky area. However, in my non-legal opinion, having the rights of a sovereign nation ought to do it for the right to seceed.

You ask me, we were better off as a Republic.
 
Man, Rabbit, what can I say? Was the Battle of the Alamo not enough? Do we have to take an amazingly heroic story about the formation of a new and great nation and then fabricate more about that nation to make it interesting?

I had hoped you had something. I had checked the annex document previously and the constitution, but not the original constitution. So I was dismayed when your proclamation that it was in the original didn't pan out. Reconcstruction was hard on the South and a lot was lost, including history, but not in this case, I am afraid.

armedcitizen, the quote from Bowie's mother, which I had never heard/read before this thread, sounds cool, but also reflects an amazing ignorance of battle. However, on the Alamo Forum, I found the quote to be somewhat different and I would guess a little more accurate in vernacular, ""Jim is dead-I wager they found no bullet wounds in his back."

However, if you note, most quotes of Bowie's mother never name her. That is because most folks have no idea who she was. She was Elve ap-Catesby Jones Bowie http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/8781/
lve Ap-Catesby Jones (or Johns) (spellings vary). The quote seems quite ambiguous. I have yet to find a mention of it being attributed to her in any sort of actual source document quoting her. My guess is that it is just another myth.

And no, I am not spoiling anything by arguing away myths, just helping to keep an amazing history actually amazing and not fictional.
 
If you folks want further history, go ahead and visit some of the other missions in Texas besides the Alamo. There wasn't a year or grade in school that did not go by without us taking a field trip to a mission. There were some significant battles that just add to the richness that is Texas History :cool:
 
2. We have to right to break up into 5 states if we so choose. Which would totally s**** over the U.S. Senate.
Click to expand...

I would pay real good money to watch TEN Texas Senators take over the Senate.
 
If you come to Texas and visit the monument at San Jacinto then go next door and visit the USS TEXAS (BB35). The only surviving dreadnought class battleship in the world. Well worth the $5 admission. Gun related, she carries 10 14" rifles in 5 turrents. :D

http://www.usstexasbb35.com/

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
 
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