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from closed-caption transcript:
(missing a few seconds at the start)
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, in both sets, the
founders believed in fundamental
human rights, including the
right to address government for
grievances.
Both groups of founders insisted
on the obligation to change the
form of government if it
trampled on those rights.
Both founders created new
nations and have been honored by
success in generations for
creating legacies of liberty.
Of course, there were
differences between the
conventions in 1776 and 1836
between philadelphia and
washington.
For one thing, texas 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.
A letter had been sent out just
days earlier.
In it, he wrote "fellow patriots
and compatriots, I am besieged
by a thousand or more of the
mexicans under santa anna.
The enemy have demanded a
surrender.
Otherwise, the garrison are to
be put to the sword.
I have answered the demand with
a cannon shot.
I shall never surrender or
retreat."
Well, history tells us that
death came to the defenders of
the alamo, but soon victory came
to the people of texas.
On april 21 of that year, sam
houston and about 900 texas
soldiers defeated the much
larger mexican army at the
battle of san jacinto.
By this victory, the texans won
the independence they declared
less than two months earlier.
Now, sam houston, the commander
of those troops and the
commander in chief of the troops
of the battle of san jacinto had
served as a congressman of
tennessee, he served as governor
of tennessee, and after the
battle, san jacinto went on to
become elected representative of
texas and become one of the
first texans to serve in the
united states senate, in the
seat that I currently occupy.
I believe that he and other
founders of our republic and now
of our great state would be
proud of the 24 million
americans who call texas home.
They would be proud that texas
remains a land of opportunity
and that we're outperforming the
nation in job creation.
They would be proud of the fact
that texas remains a welcoming
state for pioneers of all
stripes and we have led the
nation in population growth over
the last two years as people
have voted with their feet and
moved to the land of opportunity
otherwise known as texas.
They would be proud that even
during a severe recession, we
continue to build businesses and
raise families and make our
communities even better places
to live.
Just like the founding
generation, we're showing the
world that when faced with
adversity, texans do not
retreat, we reload.
Madam president, in honor of the
founders of the republic of
texas and all who are free
because of their vision and
sacrifice, I say god bless texas
and may god bless the united
states of america.
Madam president, I yield the
floor.
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