Kay Bailey Hutchison: “161 years ago yesterday, 54 delegates of the Convention of 1836 signed the Texas declaration of independence at the…”

“161 years ago yesterday, 54 delegates of the Convention of 1836 signed the Texas declaration of independence at the village of Washington-on-the-Brazos, which is near Houston, TX. Each of the settlements of Texas were represented. Texas was, at the time, a territory of Mexico. The delegates hurriedly wrote and adopted the declaration of independence, prepared a constitution for the newly formed Republic of Texas and organized an interim government. Mr. President, my great-great-grandfather was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. His law partner, Thomas Jefferson Rusk, was also one of the heroes of Texas' quest for independence. Thomas Rusk also went on to serve as a Senator from Texas, and was the first Senator to hold my Senate seat. So I have grown up knowing much about Texas history since its days as a territory of Mexico. In fact, my great-great-grandfather was the ``alcalde,'' which was the mayor of the territory for the country of Mexico. Then, he, Thomas Rusk and Sam Houston, all hailing from Nacogdoches, TX, where my mother grew up, were leaders in the effort to wrest their independence from Mexico and for Texas to be able to set up its own government. I am proud, Mr. President, that Texas is the only State in America that was once an independent nation and, in fact, we were a republic for 9 years before becoming a State.”