The Republic of Texas is a source of pride to Texans the world over. When Texas declared itself a Republic, it was, at that time, the third largest nation in North America. During the time of its existence, the Republic had the fastest fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, and maintained diplomatic relationships with France, England, Belgium, some of the German States, Mexico and the United States. Although the history books often mention the Republic, few provide the details concerning how Texas declared its independence. Following is a presentation made by the author on 28 February 2009 in commemoration of the birthdays of the Republic of Texas.

On March 2nd, in the year of our Lord, 2009 AD people across the State will be acknowledging and commemorating Texas Independence Day. It will be the 173^rd birthday of the Republic of Texas. Although March 2^nd is celebrated as Texas Independence Day, it is not the only day that Texas declared its independence. There were other times that the people of Texas rose up and declared their independence from the ruling powers. Each of those ‘birthdays’ was important in its own way.

Let us go to the baby albums, take a look at what happened and call to remembrance those birthdays. Like all birthdays, we need to consider who was there, how it was celebrated, and the significance of that birthday. Birthdays are a time of remembrance and celebration of a person’s life.

The first birthday of the Republic of Texas was April 4th, 1813. On that day, Jose Bernardo Maximillian Guiterrez de Lara (aka Jose Guiterrez) declared Texas Independence in San Antonio. he declared the "Republic of Texas", and announced that he was its first PResident.

Lara's birthday announcement came after a military force known as “the Republicans” had taken San Antonio from Spanish troops. They were a large cosmopolitan military force, composed of Indians, Americans, Mexicans, and Spaniards. They flushed with victory after defeating the Spanish forces in several battles (Battles at Goliad and Rosalis) in other parts of Texas. Since Spain was a world power, the victory of their forces was significant in their eyes. They marched under an emerald green flag in honor or Augustus Magee and his Irish heritage. Since the force had undertaken its action with political and military support from the United States, some historians have suggested that they were acting like a covert operation undertaken as part of the War of 1812.

The declaration occurred after the remaining Spanish forces in Texas commanded by Governor Salcedo were surrendered to Lara in that city. The Republicans made sure that the Spaniards surrendered to Lara rather than the leader of the American contingent out of concern for possible political fallout. Lara had the military and political support of the United States in making his declaration. Not only did he have the backing of the United States, his declaration had been discussed with the English, Danish and Russian embassies in Washington prior to its occurrence. Besides submitting a declaration of independence, he also produced a body of law in the form of a Constitution and set up a judicial system.

Amoung those in attendance were Jose Guiterrez, Jose Navarro, Samuel Kemper, Ruben Ross, Henry Perry, William Shaler (a top United States negotiator), and Dr. John Sibley (Indian agent and spy).

Rueben Ross and the Kemper brothers were veterans of the West Florida episode. In that episode, several frontiersman went into the area, claiming it was out of control. They immediately took charge declaring the independence of the "Republic of West Florida". The tiny republic was then taken over by the United States. It was hoped that such an operation could occur with Texas as well, since the War of 1812 was now underway. William Shaler was probably a spy working for the Secretary of State (James Monroe) at that time. Henry Perry was an adventurer who years later joined with the Lafitte brothers and Bowie brothers in their pirating operations including the “first Mexican navy” and “Republic of Campeche”.

Immediately there were conflicts of interest between those present when Lara proclaimed the Republic of Texas. The Americans wanted Texas to be part of the United States, while Guiterrez wanted Texas to inspire the States in Mexico to declare their independence and later join them. Another contentious issue was that Lara’s Constitution made Catholicism the ‘official religion’ of Texas. This declaration was fighting words for many of the Protestant men in the Republican army. They were familiar with religous infighting that had often occurred between the american colonies over religious matters.

The 'republicans' fragmented further when the Spanish Governor who surrendered was condemned in a kangaroo court along with his officers. The condemned men were taken outside of the city, where they were disrobed, tied to trees and their throats cut. Such acts were seen by the Americans as barbaric. The unrest created by these incidents led to the young government disintegrating due to infighting. Many of the influential republicans left the city shortly thereafter. The remaining republicans were later involved in the battle of Medina, which was the largest land battle ever fought in Texas.

What is significant about this declaration is that it was older that that of Mexico winning its independence from Spain. This is one of the many flies in the ointment of historians who hold that Texas was ‘taken’ or ‘stolen’ from Mexico. Many politically correct and revisionist historians want to present the claim that Texas originally derived from Mexico, when in terms of dates and declarations of independence, Texas is older than Mexico as a nation in 1824. although Hidalgo and his followers made proclamations, they did not lead to nationhood.

The next birthday of the Republic of Texas took place in Goliad, Texas on December 20, 1835. On that day, Philip Dimmit publicly presented a “Declaration of Independence” that had been written by Ira Ingram. Dimmit had been part of a military takeover of the old Spanish fort at that location subsequent to the fighting in Gonzales, Texas, which began the War of Texas Independence. The colonists had lured the Mexican guards by having some women distract the guards. Once the guards were distracted, local colonists, along with Ben Milam overpowered the guards and commandeered the supplies located there. It was in that struggle that the first casualty of Texas Independence occurred, when Sam McCullough, a black man was wounded in the fighting (on an ironic note, the first American casualty in the War for American Independence-Crispis Atticus was also a black man).

Among those in attendance were Philip Dimmit, Ira Ingram (who later became the Republic’s first Speaker of the House), Thomas G. Western, James Kerr, Jose Carbajal, Santos Benevidez, John Linn, James Grant, Benjamin Fort Smith, Ira Westover, William H. Jack and Governor Augustin Viesca. The Goliad Declaration had 91 signatories.

Thomas Western had taken the letters of marque issued by the young republic of Texas to the United States to notify them of these actions. Many of the big bankers disapproved of the actions taken by the young republic. James Kerr was a doctor who had been part of earlier political meetings between Texas and Mexico. Kerr was an experienced soldier as was Benjamin Fort Smith, who were both veterans of the War of 1812. Santos Benevidez leater earned the title "the Paul Revere of Texas" for his courageous actions in alerting the Republic of Texas army of the approaching Mexican military forces. William H. Jack was one of the early lawyers in Texas. The signatories were well aware of their actions of the potential implications of it.

At the time of Dimmit’s declaration, leaders in Texas had already issued ‘letters of marque’ and financing for the new republic. Dimmit’s declaration also occurred after all the Mexican forces had been eliminated from Texas. This declaration was made under the ‘bloody arm’ flag flown at Goliad. The flag sent the message that Texas was cutting itself off from Mexico. Dimmit was quickly censured by Texas political leaders for his actions. They wanted a general anti-Santa Anna uprising across the Mexican States rather than Texas declaring itself independent. The declaration alienated Texas from the other Mexican States and forced Santa Anna into taking action. He could no longer ignore the events occurring in Texas. The bloody arm flag was like a red cape being waved in the face of a bull. These men knew of the atrocities which Santa Anna inflicted on the Zacatecas region when they defied his authority. In that state, Santa Anna allowed his men to rape, plunder and pillage to their hearts content after they supressed the revolt located there.

The significance of this declaration consisted in Texas announcing its intentions. The Goliad Declaration brought Santa Anna to Texas. It sent a message that the time for political solutions was over, the matter of Texas Independence was to be decided by combat. It meant that men like David Crockett, Jim Bowie and the others at the Alamo clearly knew that they were fighting for the Independence of Texas as its own republic rather than as part of the United States. each of these men had sworn allegience to Texas in its struggle for independence. Although modern history has been distorted by John Wayne in making the Alamo look like a battle for the United States of America, the reality was that it consisted of volunteers who swore loyalty to Texas. Since many of the men fighting were wanted for crimes in the United States, they did not fight seeking to create another State in the Union of States.

The next Declaration of Independence occurred at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836. On that day, in an unfinished building owned by Noah Byers, a deacon in the local Baptist Church (which had been outlawed by Mexico), the delegates met in 33 degree weather to make its declaration to the world. As the delegates met in such inclement conditions they were reminded that the men at the Alamo were shivering in the cold and standing firm against Santa Anna’s invasion force as well.

The delegates in attendance represented the many communities of Texas. This Declaration was written by George Childress. In the document, he borrowed heavily from Thomas Jefferson’s writings. In addition to a Declaration of Independence, they also produced a Constitution and appointed an interim government. These men did not come into the city with a military force, but were rather elected delegates assembled together to take such political action. The Declaration identified the wrongs inflicted by Santa Anna and the Mexican government. It addressed the infringement on the right to bear arms, freedom of worship, freedom of representation, government confiscation, imprisonment, cultural cleansing and other travesties.

Among those present were Thomas J. Rusk, Sam Houston, David G. Burnett (veteran of Simon Bolivar’s activities in South America), Lorenzo de Zavala, Jose Navarro and others. The government had already taken steps to provide funding, government, an army, and representation with other nations. In many ways, the Declaration served to rubber stamp and make official what was already underway. At one point, as Lorenzo de Zavala began speaking with frequent references to Roman history, he was interrupted. The person interrupting him said, “We need to be more concerned about live Mexicans than dead Romans”.

This Declaration was not just about political freedom. It also addressed the need for freedom of religion, freedom to bear arms, freedom from unnecessary incarceration (police brutality; crooked courts), seizure of property and unstable government rules/regulations. This declaration made a public statement to world concerning Texas and the formation of the Republic. The founders also saw to it that the military authority and the government were separated. The Declaration was a matter of concern to U. S. bankers which had been financing the Mexican army. The big money interest had their investments in Santa Anna. The Declaration came as a surprise and shock to both the United States and Mexico. As more information is now coming out, Great Britain was also concerned with the Declaration of Independence. They had employed several agents in Texas whose mission was to sabotage the independence movement.

Although the Declaration of Independence took place on March 2^nd, another declaration of Independence occurred on that date in 1861. When the duly elected delegates to the Texas Secessionist Convention met, they declared the reasons for leaving the Union. They were appalled at how Abraham Lincoln had already called troops up for the invasion of the Southern States, even though he had not even been sworn into office. The delegates moved swiftly in considering the options for Texas. After declaring their reasons for secession (14 reasons were cited), they voted on a declaration of secession (a type of Declaration of Independence).

Once the document was approved, the delegates submitted it to the people, where it passed by over 70% approval. The declaration intentionally went into effect on March 2^nd 1861. The article of secession effectively renounced the legislative act which originally allowed Texas into the Union. Those delegates stated that since an act of elected representatives brought us into the Union, a similar act can take us out of it and resume status as the Republic of Texas.

Like previous declarations, they presented a list of the wrongs done to Texas and its citizens, including failure to protect the border, failure to punish mass murderers (like John Brown), attempting to infringe on rights protected by the Constitution, the President calling for troops to invade the Southern States even before being sworn into office, and other offenses.

Among those in attendance were Jose Navarro, Sam Houston, Benjamin Franklin Terry (Ben Fort Smith’s nephew), John Austin Wharton, former President Mirabeau Lamar, Judge O. M. Roberts, and William P. Rogers. Although legally, Texas resumed its role as an independent Republic again, it did not operate as an independent Republic, despite encouragement from the French legation and former President Sam Houston to do so. Instead, it operated like a state that had joined a union of States.

These men knew the importance of the Texas Declaration of Independence and date of its occurrence. From the nature of their actions, they believed they were patriots in preserving Texas freedoms including the freedom to bear arms, freedom of religion, freedom of representation, and having a responsive government. Such values remain important to Texans. The birthdays of Texas were each filled with controversy and conflicts, often upsetting other nations. Despite the controversies, they are a source of pride for Texas and Texians around the globe.