By Hunter of Taylor H.C.R. No. 118 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The year 1995 will mark 150 years since the United 1-2 States of America admitted Texas as the 28th state in the Union; 1-3 and 1-4 WHEREAS, The sesquicentennial of Texas statehood is a truly 1-5 momentous occasion that allows all Texans to reflect on their 1-6 state's proud heritage and bright future; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Acting on the advice of President John Tyler, the 1-8 United States Congress adopted a joint resolution on February 28, 1-9 1845, inviting Texas to enter the Union as a state with full 1-10 retention of its public lands; today, a century and a half later, 1-11 Texas enjoys the distinction of being the only state admitted with 1-12 such extensive rights; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The citizens of the Republic of Texas were deeply 1-14 committed to the goals and ideals embodied in the United States 1-15 Constitution and, on June 16, 1845, the Congress of the Republic of 1-16 Texas was convened by President Anson Jones to consider the 1-17 proposal of statehood; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Texas took advantage of the offer, choosing to unite 1-19 with a large and prosperous nation that could more effectively 1-20 defend the borders of Texas and expand its flourishing trade with 1-21 European countries; by October of 1845, the Congress of the 1-22 Republic of Texas had approved a state constitution, charting a 1-23 bold new destiny for the Lone Star State; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The proposed state constitution was sent to 2-2 Washington, D.C., and on December 29, 1845, the United States of 2-3 America formally welcomed Texas as a new state; the transfer of 2-4 governmental authority, however, was not complete until February of 2-5 1846, when Anson Jones lowered the flag that had flown above the 2-6 Capitol for nearly 10 years and stepped down from his position as 2-7 the President of the Republic of Texas; and 2-8 WHEREAS, With the poignant retirement of the flag of the 2-9 Republic, Texas emerged as a blazing Lone Star in the American 2-10 firmament, taking its place as the 28th state admitted into the 2-11 Union; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas, 2-13 Regular Session, 1995, hereby commemorate the sesquicentennial of 2-14 Texas statehood and encourage all Texans to take note of this 2-15 historic occasion.