Priceless document headed home to birthplace 2/28/2006 3:34 PM By: News 8 Austin Staff Just in time for Texas Independence Day, the state constitution is returning to its home. The priceless document was loaded into an armored truck and bound for Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, near Brenham. Four mounted Texas Rangers escorted a stagecoach carrying the documents to the museum. The constitution was lost in 1946 and didn't turn up until 2003 at the Texas General Land Office. But land office officials say what is more legendary is what the framers didn't know at the time the constitution was signed. "The day this was presented was March 7, 1836. The previous day the Alamo had fallen. Those who were working on this document didn't know that had happened," Texas Land Office spokesperson Jerry Drake said. The constitution was written in 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos as General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his troops battled with Texans seeking independence from Mexico. WATCH THE VIDEO More Information Texas Constitution News 8 Austin's Amy Hadley reports from the Texas Land Office. "They didn't find out until March 15. So as soon as they started to put their signatures on this document, they were essentially signing their own death warrants if they were caught," Drake said. The constitution and other documents are preserved through donations to the Save Texas History program. The Star of the Republic Museum, at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, will display the 170-year-old documents beginning Thursday -- Texas Independence Day. The exhibit will continue through March 16. http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=156464
Gee, I hope this news doesn't tick off the hispanic community. How dare Texans celebrate a constitution that was made before we had even won? Those pompous bastards.
