The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE 159TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S3366-S3367 on March 2, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE 159TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I think the relevance of what I am going to talk about today will be brought into what has just happened. The historic opportunity that we had that was missed actually falls on the 159th anniversary of the independence of Texas.
One of my predecessors in this Chamber, Sam Houston, led the Texas army to victory at San Jacinto on March 2, 1836, his birthday.
Today, Texans everywhere celebrate that historic victory, and now that we have joined ranks in the United States, we invite all to join us in honoring the victory at San Jacinto.
Texans also remember on this day the soldiers who did not live to see that
[[Page S3367]] victory, because they died a few days earlier at the Battle of the Alamo. One hundred eighty-four brave men held the Alamo for 13 days before falling to 6,000 Mexican troops.
Following a tradition begun by my recent predecessor, John Tower, on the birthday of our more distant predecessor, Senator Sam Houston, I would like to read a letter sent by the commander of the Alamo, Col. William Barret Travis, during the siege. I think it will serve as a reminder of how many people spilled blood to make our country what it is today:
To the people of Texas and all Americans in the world--Fellow citizens and Compatriots--I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due his own honor and that of his country. Victory or death. William B. Travis, The Alamo, 2/24/1836.
Today is a great day in the history of Texas. I am sorry that it is a sad day for America. It will be remembered as the day we did not declare independence from the debt accumulated over the last 34 years. We did not close the back door to become heroes of future generations, but while the Alamo is just a memory in our minds, we will be back to fight the battle of the balanced budget amendment. We will amend our Constitution, and we will do the right thing some day.
So while I am not able to celebrate the vote that just happened on this floor a few minutes ago, perhaps we will remember the lesson of the Alamo and perhaps we will remember that it was those who died at the Alamo, who thought they had failed to hold that bastion that paved the way for the success of the Battle of San Jacinto.
Mr. President, our Battle of San Jacinto has yet to come on the balanced budget amendment, but it will. It will come, and we will do what is right for the future generations of our country. The battle has just begun. Today was the Alamo and San Jacinto will follow.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. THURMOND. Will the Senator yield?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator yield?
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I yield.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I want to commend the able Senator from Texas on what she has had to say about the Alamo. I am very pleased that South Carolina played a big part in that historic event. William Barret Travis, the commander at the Alamo, was born in Edgefield County in South Carolina, the county in which I was born. He was a brave soldier. He fought to the end. Every person there was killed.
James Bonham, another man prominent to the Alamo, was also born in Edgefield County, SC. So we are proud that South Carolina has played a big part in the history of Texas. They saw they could not win over the Mexicans, they were overpowered. James Bonham asked for permission to go out in the countryside to search for reinforcements. He had to fight through the Mexican lines to get out. He could find no help. He fought to get back to the Alamo.
He came back to the fort and fought to his death. He knew they would die because they did not have enough support. Again, I want to commend the able Senator from Texas for telling us about the history of the Alamo.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, let me just say that the Senator from South Carolina, as usual, is right. The people of South Carolina did come and die at the Alamo. They were very much an important part of the independence of Texas.
I want to say that there were people from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia who also played a major part. I would not be standing here today as the Senator from Texas but for the blood of those great men who migrated from the East and came over and were a very important part of the history of our Nation.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. The Senator from Wisconsin.
Mr. FEINGOLD. I thank the Chair.
(The remarks of Mr. Feingold pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 83 are located in today's Record under ``Submissions of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions.'')
Mr. FEINGOLD. I yield the floor.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, all of Vermont is saddened today by the loss of a great leader in agriculture, George Dunsmore.
George was a strong advocate for Vermont agriculture. He worked tirelessly promoting it here and abroad, and fighting for it in the legislatures of Montpelier, VT and Washington, DC.
In addition to serving in the State legislature, he had two tenures as Commissioner of Agriculture. Under his leadership the high quality image of Vermont food and agricultural products has flourished. George always looked for ways to find new markets for Vermont products. He knew that it was important for Vermont and New England to look beyond our Nation's borders to the export market.
George understood Vermont agriculture so well because he was a part of it. A dairy farmer in Franklin County, he worked both on the farm and in Montpelier for many years.
He also understood how Washington worked. He was a leader in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He also served as the agricultural specialist for my good friend Jim Jeffords when he was a Member of the House of Representatives.
George was a strong supporter of the State's dairy industry and the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. I think it is fitting that Senator Jeffords and I introduce this measure, Senate Joint Resolution 28, today and do so in memory of him.
Whether he was defending the purity of Vermont's maple products, looking for new markets for our apple growers or fighting for higher prices for dairy farmers, George was always a true advocate for agriculture.
My deepest sympathies go to his wife Bette Ann, and their three children.
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