By Leedom S.C.R. No. 27 74R3499 CCK-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson Rusk contributed significantly to 1-2 the history of this state as a leader in the war for Texas 1-3 independence, a member of Congress and chief justice of the Supreme 1-4 Court of the Republic of Texas, an important voice for statehood, 1-5 and a member of the United States Senate for 11 years; and 1-6 WHEREAS, He was born on December 5, 1803, in the Pendleton 1-7 District of western South Carolina near the modern site of Clemson 1-8 University, the son of an Irish immigrant and stonemason who built 1-9 the historic Old Stone Presbyterian Church not far from the 1-10 school's present campus; and 1-11 WHEREAS, His mother was descended from an early pioneer 1-12 family and nurtured his education, which was fostered also by his 1-13 parents' landlord, John C. Calhoun, the renowned South Carolina 1-14 senator and vice president of the United States, who encouraged the 1-15 young Rusk to pursue the study of law; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Following admission to the bar, he moved to 1-17 Clarksville, Georgia, in 1825 and there met and married Mary F. 1-18 Cleveland, his lifelong love and devoted companion, whom he 1-19 addressed affectionately throughout their years together as 1-20 "Polly"; and 1-21 WHEREAS, A successful attorney and businessman in an area 1-22 that became a gold rush region, Rusk invested in a bogus mining 1-23 venture whose organizer absconded to Texas, bringing Rusk financial 1-24 ruin and prompting him to track the swindler, an effort that 2-1 resulted in his arrival in Nacogdoches in 1834 and his initial 2-2 experience in an attractive newfound land; and 2-3 WHEREAS, In Nacogdoches, where he obtained residency approval 2-4 from the Mexican government, Rusk made the acquaintance of Sam 2-5 Houston and attended political meetings where the discussion 2-6 focused on grievances against the Santa Anna government and the 2-7 alternatives of peace or war; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Reticent initially in taking a stand, he organized a 2-9 military company following the outbreak of skirmishes and saw 2-10 combat near San Antonio, then became an aide-de-camp to Stephen F. 2-11 Austin who was temporarily in command of the Texas army; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Before the Texans captured the city, Rusk was sent 2-13 back to East Texas to recruit reinforcements and acquire munitions 2-14 and supplies and, during that lull in the fighting, was reunited 2-15 with his wife and family, who traveled overland from Georgia to 2-16 join him in Nacogdoches; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Elected under the provisional government to the 2-18 convention that met in March 1836 in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Rusk 2-19 signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and was named to a 2-20 cabinet position as secretary of war under President David G. 2-21 Burnet; and 2-22 WHEREAS, Dispatched by President Burnet to assess the 2-23 disturbing retreat by Sam Houston after the fall of the Alamo and 2-24 the massacre at Goliad, the secretary followed the Texas army to 2-25 its ultimate victory at San Jacinto, playing an important role en 2-26 route by asserting the powers of his office to direct the army 2-27 toward the field where the decisive battle would be fought; and 3-1 WHEREAS, Following the achievement of independence, Rusk 3-2 served a term in the Second Congress of the Republic of Texas, held 3-3 intermittent military positions, spent 18 months as chief justice 3-4 of the supreme court, and assumed a law practice in partnership 3-5 with James Pinckney Henderson, who later became the first governor 3-6 of the State of Texas; and 3-7 WHEREAS, Rusk was influential in the decision to seek 3-8 annexation and statehood, serving as president of the annexation 3-9 convention in 1845, and when Texas entered the United States he 3-10 became, along with Sam Houston, one of Texas' first two members of 3-11 the United States Senate, a position he held until his death on 3-12 July 29, 1857; and 3-13 WHEREAS, Mentioned as a potential presidential candidate 3-14 during the life of the republic and again while serving in 3-15 Washington, he discouraged such speculation and denied all 3-16 presidential aspirations, yet earned the lasting esteem of his 3-17 colleagues for his skills at deliberation, persuasion, and 3-18 compromise; and 3-19 WHEREAS, Texans will remember Thomas Jefferson Rusk for his 3-20 great statesmanship and his achievements in shaping the history of 3-21 this state, and it is fitting that a state building in the Capitol 3-22 vicinity be named in his honor so that he may take his rightful 3-23 place alongside other legendary Texas leaders who enjoy like 3-24 distinction; now, therefore, be it 3-25 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-26 hereby direct that the present State Treasury Building, located at 3-27 200 East 10th Street, be named the Thomas Jefferson Rusk State 4-1 Office Building in honor of one of the state's most illustrious 4-2 forefathers; and, be it further 4-3 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 4-4 copy of this resolution to the executive director of the General 4-5 Services Commission.