Ted Poe: “We are of an independent mind, of an independent philosophy. March 2 is an important day for us because our ancestors…”

“We are of an independent mind, of an independent philosophy. March 2 is an important day for us because our ancestors and people we don't even know about decided that it was worth their lives to fight against tyranny--against a totalitarian government run by a dictator. They were volunteers. They were normal people who just had that flame of liberty in their souls, and they refused to have it taken away from them. So we remember those folks who created Texas, who fought for independence for Texas, those men at the Alamo--William Barret Travis, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, Jim Bonham, and 187 more individuals. The youngest was 15, Tapley Holland from Ohio. The oldest was 68--who fought and died for that liberty. When Texas became part of the United States, it had great depth because of the War of Independence. Part of the deal for Texas to be admitted to the Union, even by one vote, was this land that I mentioned to you that was all sold to the Federal Government, to the Union, to pay off the debts of the Republic of Texas. Thus, as we know now, Texas looks like this. All of these other areas became other States that were later admitted to the United States. When there was the agreement between Texas and the United States to join the Union, it was agreed--and it is still possible--that Texas may divide now the State of Texas into five different States.…”