Commemorating the 180th anniversary of the admission of Texas into the Union.

89(R) HCR 161 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R20814 KSM-D

By: Lowe

H.C.R. No. 161

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, December 29, 2025, will mark the 180th anniversary

of the admission of Texas into the Union; and

WHEREAS, After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the annexation

of Texas became a subject of discussion among politicians and

diplomats; in the first election following the establishment of the

Republic of Texas in 1836, its citizens voted overwhelmingly in

favor of annexation; however, the following year, when the

republic's minister proposed annexation to the administration of

U.S. President Martin Van Buren, the minister was turned down on the

basis of constitutional issues and the risk of provoking a war with

Mexico, and Texas subsequently withdrew its offer; Texas President

Mirabeau B. Lamar continued to oppose annexation, and in his second

term, Texas President Sam Houston renewed the annexation effort

with no success; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1840s, British policy toward Texas

caused a change of posture in Washington, D.C.; although Great

Britain had no intention of acquiring Texas, the British opposed

Texas annexation as England sought to bolster trade with Texans, to

prevent the westward expansion of the United States, and to

interfere in the American tariff system and institution of slavery;

alarmed by these goals, U.S. President John Tyler reintroduced

annexation; Texas President Houston ultimately consented to the

negotiation of a treaty, but it was rejected by the U.S. Senate in

June 1844; and

WHEREAS, President Tyler felt great urgency in the face of

British ambitions and developed a new plan to annex Texas by means

of a joint resolution imposing certain conditions; on February 28,

1845, the U.S. Congress passed the joint resolution, which included

the requirement for Texas to deliver all military, postal, and

customs facilities and authority to the U.S. government; on July 4,

Republic of Texas President Anson Jones presented to the Texas

Congress, and a popularly-elected constitutional convention, a

choice between annexation with the United States or a Mexican

treaty granting peace and official recognition of Texas as an

independent country; both bodies voted for the American proposal,

and the annexation ordinance and constitution drafted by the

convention were ratified by popular vote in October; on

December 29, 1845, the U.S. Congress approved the Joint Resolution

to Admit Texas as a State; it was signed by U.S. President James K.

Polk, and Texas became America's 28th state; and

WHEREAS, Residents of the Lone Star State take great pride in

their heritage as patriotic Americans, and it is indeed fitting to

recognize this historic date; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas

hereby commemorate the 180th anniversary of the admission of Texas

into the Union on December 29, 1845.