By: Turner S.C.R. No. 26 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The greatness of Sam Houston lies in the perception 1-2 of the citizens of Texas of his extraordinary life and remarkable 1-3 accomplishments; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Sam Houston was born in Timber Ridge, Rockbridge 1-5 County, Virginia, on March 2, 1793; after the death of his father 1-6 in 1807, he immigrated with his family to Tennessee; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Sam Houston enlisted in the United States Army in 1-8 1813 and was subsequently wounded in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend 1-9 against the Creek Indians; his bravery won the admiration of 1-10 General Andrew Jackson who became his mentor and lifelong friend; 1-11 and 1-12 WHEREAS, In Tennessee Sam Houston taught school, studied and 1-13 practiced law, was elected to the United States Congress, and 1-14 served as governor; and 1-15 WHEREAS, After resigning as governor, Sam Houston travelled 1-16 to the Territory of Arkansas where he met his former Cherokee 1-17 friends; he was admitted to citizenship in the Cherokee nation, 1-18 serving as its ambassador to the United States; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Already a legend in the old frontier, Sam Houston 1-20 arrived in the emerging country called Texas unaware that he held 1-21 destiny in his hands; he crossed the Red River into the Province of 1-22 Texas, Republic of Mexico, in 1832, in search of a new life and a 1-23 new career; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Sam Houston wrote President Andrew Jackson that he 2-2 considered his new home "the finest country to its extent upon the 2-3 globe" and would probably make Texas his abiding place; and 2-4 WHEREAS, His commanding presence and his ability to arouse 2-5 confidence and enthusiasm quickly thrust him into prominence as the 2-6 rising storm of opposition against the Mexican government gathered 2-7 momentum; and 2-8 WHEREAS, He practiced law, was a delegate to the Texas 2-9 Convention of 1836, signed the Texas Declaration of Independence on 2-10 March 2, 1836, and was elected commander-in-chief of the Texas 2-11 Army; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Sam Houston led the Texas Army to victory at the 2-13 Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, thereby liberating Texas 2-14 from Mexico and molding it into a sovereign nation; and 2-15 WHEREAS, The people of Texas elected their hero to serve two 2-16 terms as President of the Republic; after Texas was admitted to the 2-17 union, Sam Houston served as United States Senator from 1846 to 2-18 1859 and as governor for one term; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Sam Houston was a man of courage, vision, and 2-20 integrity; his rugged individualism led to opposition from those 2-21 who did not share his vision or his political stances; and 2-22 WHEREAS, A great orator, he was a steadfast champion of 2-23 Indian rights even in the face of controversy and opposed secession 2-24 on the eve of civil war; famous for his compassion, diplomacy, and 2-25 wit, Sam Houston was devoted to his state and possessed an 3-1 unfailing belief in himself and his ideals; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Sam Houston embodies those characteristics Texans 3-3 hold dear to their hearts; we are all indebted to him for leading 3-4 Texas in its infant years to its greatness as the Lone Star State; 3-5 and 3-6 WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the citizens of Texas 3-7 celebrate the bicentennial of his birth; now, therefore, be it 3-8 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas on 3-9 the 23rd day of February, 1993, in the year of the bicentennial of 3-10 the birth of Sam Houston, hereby pay tribute to the lasting 3-11 influence of this great man, to his birth, and to his memory.