Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/279



IN the General Convention of the People of Texas at Washington on the Brazos, March 8, 1836, Mr. George C. Childress offered the following resolutions: Resolved, That the President appoint a Committee, to consist of five delegates, to draft a Declaration of Independence.

Mr. Martin Parmer offered the following as a substitute:

"Resolved, That the President appoint one delegate from each municipality, as a Committee to draft a Declaration of Independence."

Mr. Parmer's resolution was negatived, and that of Mr. Childress adopted; whereupon the President appointed as the Committee Messrs. George C. Childress, of Milam; James Gaines, of Sabine; Edward Conrad, of Refugio; Collin McKinney, of Red River; and Bailey Hardeman, of Matagorda.

On the second day, March 2d, Mr. Robert Potter moved the appointment of a Committee of one from each municipality to draft a Constitution for the (contemplated) Republic of Texas, which was carried, and Messrs. Martin Parmer, Chairman, Robert Potter, Charles B. Stewart, Edwin Waller, Jesse Grimes, Robert M. Coleman, John Fisher, John W. Bunton, James Gaines, Lorenzo de Zavala, Stephen H. Everitt, Bailey Hardeman, Elijah Stapp, William C. Crawford, Claiborne West, James Power, Jose Antonio Navarro, Collin McKinney, William Menefee, William Motley, and Michael B. Menard were appointed the committee.

On the same day, March 2d, Mr. Childress, Chairman of the Committee, reported the draft of a Declaration of Independence, and "asked that the same be received by the Convention as their report."

Here I quote from the Journals:

"Mr. Houston moved that the report be received by the Convention, which, on being seconded, was done.

"On Mr. Collingsworth's motion, seconded, the House resolved into a com mittee of the whole, upon the report of the Committee on ndependence.

"Mr. Collingsworth was called to the chair, whereupon Mr. Houston intro duced the following resolution:

Resolved'', That the Declaration of Independence, reported by the (263)