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.