Texas Independence Day

Pancho Peacemaker · March 02, 2010, 08:37:33 AM

TEXAS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: March 2, 1836.

The Texas Declaration of Independence was framed and issued by the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. As soon as the convention was organized a resolution was introduced for appointment of a committee to draw up a declaration of independence. Richard Ellis, president of the convention, appointed George C. Childress, James Gaines, Edward Conrad, Collin McKinney, and Bailey Hardeman to the committee. Childress was named chairman, and it is generally conceded that he wrote the instrument with little help from the other members. In fact there is some evidence that he brought to the convention a proposed declaration that was adopted with little change by the committee and the convention, a view which is substantiated by the fact that the committee was appointed on March 1 and the declaration was presented to the convention on March 2. The Texas edict, like the United States Declaration of Independence, contains a statement on the nature of government, a list of grievances, and a final declaration of independence. The separation from Mexico was justified by a brief philosophical argument and by a list of grievances submitted to an impartial world. The declaration charged that the government of Mexico had ceased to protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people; that it had been changed from a restricted federal republic to a consolidated, central, military despotism; that the people of Texas had remonstrated against the misdeeds of the government only to have their agents thrown into dungeons and armies sent forth to enforce the decrees of the new government at the point of the bayonet; that the welfare of Texas had been sacrificed to that of Coahuila; that the government had failed to provide a system of public education, trial by jury, freedom of religion, and other essentials of good government; and that the Indians had been incited to massacre the settlers. According to the declaration, the Mexican government had invaded Texas to lay waste territory and had a large mercenary army advancing to carry on a war of extermination. The final grievance listed in justification of revolution charged that the Mexican government had been "the contemptible sport and victim of successive military revolutions and hath continually exhibited every characteristic of a weak, corrupt, and tyrannical government." After the signing of the original declaration by fifty-nine delegates, five copies of the document were dispatched to the designated Texas towns of Bexar, Goliad, Nacogdoches, Brazoria, and San Felipe. The printer at San Felipe was also instructed to make 1,000 copies in handbill form. The original was deposited with the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C., and was not returned to Texas until some time after June 1896. In 1929 the original document was transferred from the office of the secretary of state to the Board of Control to be displayed in a niche at the Capitol, where it was unveiled on March 2, 1930.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: James K. Greer, "The Committee on the Texas Declaration of Independence," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 30, 31 (April, July 1927). Louis Wiltz Kemp, The Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence (Salado, Texas: Anson Jones, 1944; rpt. 1959).

Irish Dave · March 02, 2010, 10:02:45 AM

Huzzah!

Ottawa Creek Bill · March 02, 2010, 02:52:37 PM

My son-in-law Austin...just got back yesterday from visiting his grandmother in Texas (yes he was born in Texas) to collect some items that belonged to his grandfather.

His grandfather was a rancher (they still own several large ranches southwest of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area) and an oil man, as his family is still involved in the oil business today.

Among the items he brought back with him were a dozen antique firearms...but best of all was the pair of cavalry spurs his grandfather wore during world war one...they are his prized possession.

Austin and my daughter Margaret will eventually move back to Texas one of these days soon...I hope the sooner the better as I want to come down there and harvest one of the famous Mui Grande on their ranch. Did I spell Mui right?

Bill

Tjackstephens · March 02, 2010, 03:35:17 PM

Brave men. Tj

Caprock Louis · March 02, 2010, 04:10:19 PM

Proud to be a Texan

My wife's great granddad was at Washington on the Brazos on that fateful day He was a signer of that document. His name was W.E Carroll.

Caprock Louis
Lost deep in the heart of Texas

Tjackstephens · March 02, 2010, 06:01:28 PM

Caprock, When I meet you would like to shake your hand. Tj

Texas Lawdog · March 02, 2010, 07:16:11 PM

Yep, The month of March is special to us Texans and Texas Masons. The Grand Lodge of Texas erected a brass plaque on the Long Barracks Bldg, near the Alamo. It honors the Masons that were at the Alamo. This makes me proud to be a Texan and a Texas Mason.

Pancho Peacemaker · March 03, 2010, 02:46:38 PM

Quote from: Ottawa Creek Bill on March 02, 2010, 02:52:37 PM
My son-in-law Austin...just got back yesterday from visiting his grandmother in Texas (yes he was born in Texas) to collect some items that belonged to his grandfather.

His grandfather was a rancher (they still own several large ranches southwest of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area) and an oil man, as his family is still involved in the oil business today.

Among the items he brought back with him were a dozen antique firearms...but best of all was the pair of cavalry spurs his grandfather wore during world war one...they are his prized possession.

Austin and my daughter Margaret will eventually move back to Texas one of these days soon...I hope the sooner the better as I want to come down there and harvest one of the famous Mui Grande on their ranch. Did I spell Mui right?

Bill

The spell it: Muy Grande.

The "Muy Grande" constest is held primarily in South Texas, and is headquartered in Freer, Tx, (not far from where I grew up). The white tails taken down there (South of San Antonio) have extraordinary racks. Lots of debate about why this is.

The deer are alot smaller than most Mid-Western white tails. A "big" mature buck will dress out at 180#. A 200# dressed buck will be a once a year event that hits the news papers. These deer live on open desert plains with mesquite beans and some seasonal grasses to eat. That's probably why they don't get lots of body mass. However, these deer have amazing racks. You will see 3 and 4 year old deer with 12+ inch tines and 22"+ spreads. Some theorize these deer get some magic minerals from their diet in South Texas. I know one biologist theorized that we have a sub-population here with genetics for big antlers.

The "Muy Grande" contest is quite an event in South Texas. Unfortunately, you will not see as many big racks on the deer around North Texas.

Here's a link to the contest: http://www.muygrandevillage.com/

Ottawa Creek Bill · March 03, 2010, 05:54:58 PM

Quote from: Pancho Peacemaker on March 03, 2010, 02:46:38 PM
The spell it: Muy Grande.

The "Muy Grande" constest is held primarily in South Texas, and is headquartered in Freer, Tx, (not far from where I grew up). The white tails taken down there (South of San Antonio) have extraordinary racks. Lots of debate about why this is.

The deer are alot smaller than most Mid-Western white tails. A "big" mature buck will dress out at 180#. A 200# dressed buck will be a once a year event that hits the news papers. These deer live on open desert plains with mesquite beans and some seasonal grasses to eat. That's probably why they don't get lots of body mass. However, these deer have amazing racks. You will see 3 and 4 year old deer with 12+ inch tines and 22"+ spreads. Some theorize these deer get some magic minerals from their diet in South Texas. I know one biologist theorized that we have a sub-population here with genetics for big antlers.

The "Muy Grande" contest is quite an event in South Texas. Unfortunately, you will not see as many big racks on the deer around North Texas.

Here's a link to the contest: http://www.muygrandevillage.com/

Pancho...
Steroids

Bill

Texas Lawdog · March 03, 2010, 09:25:51 PM

We get some of those big Mule deer in the Texas Panhandle, north of Amarillo, on the Canadian River. My Dad shot one up there that dressed out about 180 back when I was in high school.

Shotgun Franklin · March 04, 2010, 06:29:25 AM

I guessing that this still stands as the State record but in the middle 70s a kid killed a doe in Caldwell County that weighed 300 pounds. A doe, one big mama.

Ottawa Creek Bill · March 04, 2010, 08:57:45 AM

Quote from: Texas Lawdog on March 03, 2010, 09:25:51 PM
We get some of those big Mule deer in the Texas Panhandle, north of Amarillo, on the Canadian River. My Dad shot one up there that dressed out about 180 back when I was in high school.

TL......We've got deer here in Indiana that weigh that much at birth.....

Bill

Texas Lawdog · March 04, 2010, 12:33:08 PM

Bill, Should I put my waders on now?

Dr. Bob · March 06, 2010, 01:30:11 AM

Bro. TLD,

And they better be chest waders!

Texas Lawdog · March 06, 2010, 01:35:11 PM

Bro. Bob, I'm already there.

Ottawa Creek Bill · March 06, 2010, 04:47:43 PM

Quote from: Texas Lawdog on March 06, 2010, 01:35:11 PM
Bro. Bob, I'm already there.

Are you guys trying to say I've got a lot of sh*%..............?

Bill

Texas Lawdog · March 06, 2010, 06:21:00 PM

Now, I wouldn't say that!

Dr. Bob · March 07, 2010, 12:45:31 AM

I might!

Texas Lawdog · March 07, 2010, 04:59:49 AM

That's terrible!

Jed Cooper · March 07, 2010, 08:44:32 AM

Hey Jim, A couple of years ago, I got a 12 point with both forked brow tines. Called him in within 30 feet. Took him with a 71/2 in. 2nd. gen. colt. And yes he is on the wall, and I have pictures. Dave PS I'm bringen a couple of (I think) very cool Masonic watch fobs I had made to the convention with me.