At a time when men and women were besieged at the Alamo by the self-styled “Napoleon of the West,” the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
The Alamo fell a few days later, but the world was stunned as Sam Houston’s army defeated the dictator Santa Anna less than two months later.
Houston, who coincidentally had been born on the same day of the month the Declaration was signed, later served as president of Texas and as governor when it became a state. On his statue in Huntsville, which can be seen for miles on IH45 these words can be found:
“Govern wisely, and as little as possible.” We still try to do that here, unlike most parts of the world.
Happy Birthday to Texas and to Sam Houston!
