"We, therefore, the delegates, with plenary powers, of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the supreme Arbiter of destinies of nations."
I have often wondered at the dual histories I learned growing up. The first is the classic American creation myth - with a cast of characters like Uncle Sam and George Washington, Betsy Ross and Paul Revere. And the second you might call the Texas creation myth, with characters like Sam Houston, Stephen F Austin, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and the nefarious (and gum chewing) General Santa Anna. We have our own battles and our massacres, our songs and our Pledge of Allegience (which always comes after the US one). People joke that its like a whole other country, but in many ways they are more right than they realize.
Today is the 173rd anniversary of the Texians convening in Washington-on-the-Brazos to declare their independence from Mexico, culminating with the words above. The idea that we pass down histories of our heritage through heros and stories and songs has always fascinated me, particularly when I could lay claim to two of them growing up within the same country.
I have often wondered at the dual histories I learned growing up. The first is the classic American creation myth - with a cast of characters like Uncle Sam and George Washington, Betsy Ross and Paul Revere. And the second you might call the Texas creation myth, with characters like Sam Houston, Stephen F Austin, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and the nefarious (and gum chewing) General Santa Anna. We have our own battles and our massacres, our songs and our Pledge of Allegience (which always comes after the US one). People joke that its like a whole other country, but in many ways they are more right than they realize.
Today is the 173rd anniversary of the Texians convening in Washington-on-the-Brazos to declare their independence from Mexico, culminating with the words above. The idea that we pass down histories of our heritage through heros and stories and songs has always fascinated me, particularly when I could lay claim to two of them growing up within the same country.