H.R. No. 1119 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, In 1995, Texas marks the 150th anniversary of its 1-2 achievement of statehood, and the citizens of Tyler will hold town 1-3 square celebrations commemorating the sesquicentennial and honoring 1-4 former President John Tyler, who was instrumental in securing 1-5 Texas' entry into the Union; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Born on March 29, 1790, at Greenway in Charles City 1-7 County, Virginia, President Tyler graduated from the College of 1-8 William and Mary and studied law in the office of his father, who 1-9 served three years as governor of Virginia and later as a United 1-10 States district judge; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The young Tyler began his career in public office in 1-12 1811 as a member of the Virginia General Assembly and served 1-13 several intermittent terms in that body over the next 30 years, 1-14 punctuated by intervals as United States representative from 1817 1-15 to 1821, as governor of Virginia from 1825 to 1827, and as United 1-16 States senator from 1827 to 1836; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Nominated by the Whig Party in 1836 as a vice 1-18 presidential candidate on one of its sectional tickets, President 1-19 Tyler gained lasting fame in 1840 as the running mate of Whig 1-20 presidential candidate William Henry Harrison, producing the famous 1-21 campaign slogan, "Tippecanoe and Tyler too"; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Following President Harrison's death, one month into 1-23 his administration, Vice President Tyler assumed the presidency and 1-24 compiled an impressive record by ending the Seminole war in 2-1 Florida, settling the Maine boundary dispute, extending the Monroe 2-2 Doctrine to Hawaii, and opening the first American trade mission to 2-3 China; and 2-4 WHEREAS, President Tyler vigorously pursued the annexation of 2-5 Texas, leading to congressional adoption of a joint resolution 2-6 offering Texas statehood according to specified conditions on 2-7 February 28, 1845; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Adoption of the joint resolution by the United 2-9 States Congress led to approval by the Texas Congress and by a 2-10 convention called by the president of the republic; adoption of a 2-11 state constitution followed and was accepted by the United States 2-12 Congress on December 29, 1845, the date on which Texas legally 2-13 achieved statehood; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Although Tyler left the presidency before the formal 2-15 culmination of his annexation efforts, Texans have always 2-16 recognized his critically important role in that process, a memory 2-17 attested to by the East Texas city that proudly bears his name; 2-18 now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby honor the life of President John Tyler and his 2-21 efforts and influence in behalf of Texas statehood; and, be it 2-22 further 2-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-24 prepared for the City of Tyler for its use in celebrating the 1995 2-25 Texas statehood sesquicentennial.