Political Quotes

“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. . . .…”