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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The French Legation was originally built in |
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1840-1841 to be the residence of the charge d'affairs who |
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represented the government of France in the Republic of Texas, and |
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the French Legation Museum is celebrating the building's 170th |
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anniversary on April 8, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, who was responsible for |
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the construction of the structure, left Austin in 1841, and the |
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building was sold a few years later; it had been designed to provide |
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an appropriate setting for European diplomatic duties, dinner |
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parties, and entertainment, but soon served as the headquarters for |
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an effort to regain Texian missions for the Catholic Church in the |
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1840s and later became a private residence for the Dr. Joseph |
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W. Robertson family, who owned the house for about a century; and |
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WHEREAS, Miss Lillie Robertson was the caretaker of the |
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property for many years; she felt that the structure belonged to the |
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people of this state and would invite visitors in to see the house |
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and to hear about its history; in keeping with her sentiment, the |
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Robertson heirs agreed to sell the site to the State of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1956 the property has been operated by The |
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Daughters of the Republic of Texas as the French Legation Museum, |
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with concerned Texans working tirelessly to preserve, protect, and |
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restore the building and to retell the story of the house, including |
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its fascinating architecture and construction, for the generations |
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that have followed; and |
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WHEREAS, A vital cultural resource, the French Legation |
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provides a link to our state's beginnings as an independent |
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republic and allows citizens an opportunity to better understand |
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and appreciate their Texas heritage; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 170th anniversary of the French |
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Legation and extend to all those associated with the French |
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Legation Museum sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the museum as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |