Happy Texas Independence Day!

By State Senator Van Taylor

On March 2, one hundred and eighty years ago, fifty nine delegates met to draft and adopt the original Texas Declaration of Independence. This convention at Washington on the Brazos in 1836 harbored the unanimous passage of a document proclaiming Texas an independent republic from Mexico.

The signatories of the Texas Declaration of Independence formed the Republic of Texas as a result of the actions of a tyrannical government — a government that completely undermined the Constitution that it was entrusted to protect and uphold. Freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, the right to a trial by jury and many others fell victim to a regime determined to centralize power in a distant federal government.

“These, and other grievances, were patiently borne by the people of Texas, until they reached that point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue.” – Texas Declaration of Independence

On March 2, we celebrate Texas Independence Day and remember those who fought and those who died in order to guarantee us the freedoms we have today. Texas is a beacon of freedom and opportunity to our nation, and we must always fight to keep it that way. As your Senator, I am committed to preserving our rights and fighting on your behalf to ensure that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness remain unabridged.

The Declaration of Independence tells us that our rights come from God and we entrust those rights to government that “deriv[es]their just powers from the consent of the governed.” In short, I work for you. I hope you continue to reach out to me with your thoughts, ideas, or concerns. Together, we must ensure we pass on to our children and grandchildren a Texas just as free prosperous as the one we inherited.

Taylor is State Senator for District 8.