Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-05-31
TEXAS'S OWN FOURTH
isl6cH ? AL-GhL HOLIDAY INLoNE
2Ta6 STATE.
separatipn From Mexico Went Form lily
Into Enea. on That Day strong Doe
sment Drawn Up As u Declaration OF
Independence.

Few Americans are aware that In
one Of the greatest states of the Union
the second day of March is a legal
holiday. Some would be mystifed if
told, furthermore. that this Is the date
Of the Declaration of Independence Of
one part Of the American nation. Such
however, are the facts. The state is
Texas. What the Fourth Of July is in
the history of the thirteen origina!
colonies, the second Of March is in the
history Of Texas
The opening of the year 1886 found
Texas in quite an anomalous cond-
ton. She was engaged In active fight
Ing against Mexico, aud yet seemed to
have no other idea than that of re-
naming a portion of Mexico. In No
yaT1er of the preceding year a gather
ing known as the general consultation
had been held at San Felipe. The name
consultation was applied to this be-
cause the MeXicans were prejudlced
against conventions" This one fact
shows how anxious the Texans were
to retain the favor of Mexico. Proyi-
sion was made for another council. to
meet the LIST of March of the next year.
On Feb. J an election was held. and
fifty eight were chosen as delegates to
that gathering.
These assembled March 1 in the pic
turesque old town of Washington, on
the Brazos. The next day they unan-
lmously adopted a declaration of in
dependence. 1t was written by George
{. Childress, and is considered a str5ng
document. The opening lines are as
follows;
When Government has ceased to
grotect the lives, liberty and property
of the people, from whom its legiti-
mate powers are derived"
1t then proceeds to state concisely
snd vigorously sixteen separate points
In which the government of Mexico
had failed in its duty to Texas. 1t then
states that these and other griev-
ances were patiently borne until they
ceached the point at which forbear-
lnce ceased TO be virtue" 1t declares
that the Texans then took up arms in
defense of the national Constitution"
that is, the Constitution of Mexico
BUT that now the necessity of self
preservation DEGREES an eternal politi-
cal separation" 1t closes by commit
ting the issue to the decision of the
supreme Arbter of the destnies of
nations"
The first name signed is that of
Richard Ellis, the president OF the
Gathering. Then follow the names of
hfty-one others who were present.
Sam Houston was one of these. Last
some the names of six others who
we're elected delegates, but were not
present, and signed later. Nearly all of
he fifty-eight names are now perpetu-
lted as the names of counties on the
map of Texas.
After all. however. one can not help |
feeling that this declaration of indie
oendence was largely a matter of form.
speaking the connection
With the mother country had already |
been severed. There had been some |
months OF actual fighting. The battles |
of Conception, Goliad and Gonzales |
had already been fought. San Antonio |
lad already been captured by the |
Texans and recaptured by the Mexi-
'ans. At the very time the convention |
vas in session Travis, Bowie Crockett |
',Nd their brave followers were making |
EsiI last heroic stand at the Alamo. |
"a Sunday. March 6, the last letter
= yAtten by Travis was received When |
.As president read the message one
psmber sprang to his feet and moved |
-0st the members of the convention |
sgm themselves and march Immediate
y to the Alamo to relieve Travis.
4sm Houston opposed this. He claimed |
bat the first duty of the convention |
vas to establish government and a
He offered to collect
.roops himself and march to the relief |
This he did, but all too late. On the
ight of the very day when they were
discussing it-Sunday, March 6, 1886
.ae final attack was made. All the |
world knows the result. The Alamo
Ill. but its glorious fall made forever |
impossible the failure of Texan inde-
Dendence, so peacefully declared in the
quiet town of Washington only few
lays before.