Yes, I think that Republican State Rep. Joe Straus, who happens to be the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, is the most courageous politician in Texas. Via Facebook:
Today I am sending a letter to my fellow members of the State Preservation Board regarding the Children of the Confederacy Creed plaque on the first floor of the Capitol.
Confederate monuments and plaques are understandably important to many Texans. But it is important that the historical information displayed on the Capitol grounds is accurate and appropriate. The Children of the Confederacy Creed plaque does not meet this standard. The plaque says that the Civil War was not an act of rebellion and was not primarily about slavery. This is not accurate, and Texans are not well-served by incorrect information about our history.
Those of us who serve on the State Preservation Board should direct staff to identify the steps necessary to remove this plaque as soon as practicable. Texans should expect to see an accurate depiction of history when they visit their state Capitol. As I have stated before, I also believe that Preservation Board Staff should study the historical accuracy and context of other symbols on the Capitol grounds. For example, some of the language that explains and describes monuments may need updating. We have an obligation to all the people we serve to ensure that our history is described correctly, especially when it comes to a subject as painful as slavery.
To any objective observer of this, Speaker Straus is completely accurate in his remarks. Before you tell me about ‘erasing history’ or any of the other nonsense that people who support idolizing Confederate soldiers and institutions put forth, how about we actually read what this plaque says?
This line is the problem:
To study and teach the truths of history (one of the most important of which is that the ware between the states was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery).
As with any war, there are many nuances as to why the war started and rarely any singular ’cause’ of war. And such would be the case of the US Civil War. But especially for those of us that live in Texas, it is patently false to say that sustaining slavery wasn’t the or an underlying cause. Let’s read from the Declaration of Causes that led to Texas’ secession from the Union:
Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated States to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility [sic] and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. She was received into the confederacy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. She was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery–the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits–a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time. Her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slave-holding States of the confederacy. Those ties have been strengthened by association. But what has been the course of the government of the United States, and of the people and authorities of the non-slave-holding States, since our connection with them?
The controlling majority of the Federal Government, under various pretences and disguises, has so administered the same as to exclude the citizens of the Southern States, unless under odious and unconstitutional restrictions, from all the immense territory owned in common by all the States on the Pacific Ocean, for the avowed purpose of acquiring sufficient power in the common government to use it as a means of destroying the institutions of Texas and her sister slave-holding States.
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When we advert to the course of individual non-slave-holding States, and that [of] a majority of their citizens, our grievances assume far greater magnitude.
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The States of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, by solemn legislative enactments, have deliberately, directly or indirectly violated the 3rd clause of the 2nd section of the 4th article of the federal constitution, and laws passed in pursuance thereof; thereby annulling a material provision of the compact, designed by its framers to perpetuate amity between the members of the confederacy and to secure the rights of the slave-holdings States in their domestic institutions–a provision founded in justice and wisdom, and without the enforcement of which the compact fails to accomplish the object of its creation. Some of those States have imposed high fines and degrading penalties upon any of their citizens or officers who may carry out in good faith that provision of the compact, or the federal laws enacted in accordance therewith.
In all the non-slave-holding States, in violation of that good faith and comity which should exist between entirely distinct nations, the people have formed themselves into a great sectional party, now strong enough in numbers to control the affairs of each of those States, based upon the unnatural feeling of hostility to these Southern States and their beneficent and patriarchal system of African slavery, proclaiming the debasing doctrine of the equality of all men, irrespective of race or color–a doctrine at war with nature, in opposition to the experience of mankind, and in violation of the plainest revelations of the Divine Law. They demand the abolition of negro slavery throughout the confederacy, the recognition of political equality between the white and the negro races, and avow their determination to press on their crusade against us, so long as a negro slave remains in these States.
For years past this abolition organization has been actively sowing the seeds of discord through the Union, and has rendered the federal congress the arena for spreading firebrands and hatred between the slave-holding and non-slave-holding States.
By consolidating their strength, they have placed the slave-holding States in a hopeless minority in the federal congress, and rendered representation of no avail in protecting Southern rights against their exactions and encroachments.
They have proclaimed, and at the ballot box sustained, the revolutionary doctrine that there is a “higher law” than the constitution and laws of our Federal Union, and virtually that they will disregard their oaths and trample upon our rights.
They have for years past encouraged and sustained lawless organizations to steal our slaves and prevent their recapture, and have repeatedly murdered Southern citizens while lawfully seeking their rendition.
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They have sent hired emissaries among us to burn our towns and distribute arms and poison to our slaves for the same purpose.
They have impoverished the slave-holding States by unequal and partial legislation, thereby enriching themselves by draining our substance.
They have refused to vote appropriations for protecting Texas against ruthless savages, for the sole reason that she is a slave-holding State.
And, finally, by the combined sectional vote of the seventeen non-slave-holding States, they have elected as president and vice-president of the whole confederacy two men whose chief claims to such high positions are their approval of these long continued wrongs, and their pledges to continue them to the final consummation of these schemes for the ruin of the slave-holding States.
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That in this free government all white men are and of right ought to be entitled to equal civil and political rights; that the servitude of the African race, as existing in these States, is mutually beneficial to both bond and free, and is abundantly authorized and justified by the experience of mankind, and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator, as recognized by all Christian nations; while the destruction of the existing relations between the two races, as advocated by our sectional enemies, would bring inevitable calamities upon both and desolation upon the fifteen slave-holding States.
By the secession of six of the slave-holding States, and the certainty that others will speedily do likewise, Texas has no alternative but to remain in an isolated connection with the North, or unite her destinies with the South.
I count 21 mentions of ‘slave’ in that Declaration of Causes.
The idea that slavery wasn’t an underlying cause of the civil war is absurd.
I have no doubt that Speaker Straus will be unmercifully attacked for his stand for truth. A brief glimpse of his Facebook page shows what he is in for:
Speaker Straus, by what authority do you have to declare the information on the plaque is not accurate? When you read the documents about what started the Civil War, it clearly identifies the grievances the states had against the US federal government. Honey, and slavery was NOT one of the top items. Yes, slavery was painful. Key word: WAS! Do you not get it?
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More absurdity. Switch your party already.
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I always assumed u were a democrat!
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Once again you show that you stand against the people of Texas and that you are a RINO. You should be ashamed of yourself.
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I could be wrong but I asked myself a question, how was it that many God-fearing people had slaves? Was slavery wrong? Was it a misnomer? Were they slaves in their eyes or were they saving the acquired from being killed by other tribes or from hunger or a worse servitude?
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This democrat criminal straus is lousy. Jail him. All confederate men’s statues stay. These are hero’s. You are the traitor to America.
Those are the nice ones.
We’ve been needing a Republican leader for a long time in Texas. Someone who isn’t afraid of going against the grain. Someone who doesn’t stick his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing in Republican primary circles before he makes a statement.
We’ve found him, as I’ve said for many years now. The question is, will we listen to him?
Keep up the fight David. No matter how worthless the struggle is, you keep fighting that civil war til its over in your mind.
Next let’s dissect rap music for greater truths too.
Would be a lot more productive to do it with the Emancipation Proclamation.
If he is intent on making sure plaques are correct, shouldn’t they remove the one that says “Joseph Straus (R)”?
I have no delusions that Texas in 1861 wasn’t interested in keeping slavery, nor that the people weren’t white supremacists.
But the plaque does not disprove either of those statements. What the plaque proves is that in 1959, there were people who had a creed that neither was true.
If Straus is interested in historical accuracy, he should concentrate on education.
But I don’t consider sucking up to BLM and their pc crowd to be political courage. If it is, then an additional chapter needs to be added to JFK’ s book.
I’m Tom Zakes and I approve this message.
Geez Tom,
You are the last person I thought that would take the RINO route. I always respected your opinions.
BTW, Straus is very much committed to education. Can you say the same about yourself, given the candidates that you support?
Sucking up to Black Lives Matter? By demanding the truth?
Sigh. Good Republicans like Tom Zakes are demanding that lies not be corrected.
I’m David Jennings and I approve this message.
You are correct, sir.
Slavery was A cause of the war between the States, but not the underlying cause. It was the major subpoint to the underlying cause which was states rights. In this, the plaque is accurate.
You are absolutely correct about the Civil War. I do disagree with you about the courage of our Speaker. From where I sit he appears to be jumping in front of the parade.
Wouldn’t it have taken considerably more courage to take this position four years ago, before the tsunami of political correctness rolled across the country?
He might be out of step with the majority of the Republican party, be he is extremely comfortable with that.
I think there are more pressing problems in this state, such as property tax reform (blocked by Straus), than what is written on a plaque that most of us didn’t even know or care was there. He would be courageous if he ran for speaker under the Republican caucus rather than counting on dems to be elected.
Warren, there are always more ‘pressing problems’. The interesting thing is that property tax ‘reform’ was actually passed by the House under Speaker Straus’ leadership. And guess what? The ‘reformers’ in the Senate blocked it. Facts are stubborn things.
Not true. Straus blocked a conference committee near the end of the special session. The bill in the house was extremely watered down, and he wouldn’t allow any changes. Straus is a lot of things but courageous is not one of them. Courage would be to run for speaker under the Republican caucus first.
Facts are stubborn things Warren. And the fact is that the House voted out a ‘reform’ bill that had a cap 2{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} higher than the Senate’s version. Instead of taking what they could get and trying again next time, the Senate refused to vote on it and went home. Just the facts.
Have you ever asked yourself why Paul and friends refuse to put forth real, true property tax reform?
The house also watered down many other aspects of the bill, including a lot of exemptions. I think that Uncle Paul is trying to get reform in stages. If he proposed appraisal cap reform, Straus and his stooges might actually try to raise the cap instead of lowering it. I do not understand your fan boy support of Straus. He is not a conservative. Why won’t he run for speaker under the Repub caucus first? (Because he wouldn’t win, that’s why.)
“If he is intent on making sure plaques are correct, shouldn’t they remove the one that says “Joseph Straus (R)”?”
What Tom said.
I agree with Strauss. I don’t think the plaque is accurate. If you can read, it is clear that the author is correct and strauss has made the right call. I did prefer the Senate tax bill over the house version – it’s unfortunate both died. But, Dan Patrick fixating on bathrooms is what killed the tax reform bill. He ran the clock out on his own bill. How could the lege be expected to do anything with that ridiculous side show. bill king said, let’s not focus on statues and bathrooms but focus on real policies.
Great article, David. I have long believed that Joe Straus was a courageous politician who serves the State of Texas well.
If we want to get rid of all reminders of slavery, let us not overlook the Alamo. The brave defenders of the Alamo were not fighting for an independent Texas. They were fighting to preserve slavery which had been outlawed by Mexico. So, if we want to get rid of all reminders of slavery, we should raze the Alamo and erect a Starbucks in its place. (BJP followers and proud Texans, please don’t threaten to kill me, I’m not proposing we turn our beloved Alamo into a Starbucks.)
David, my friend, are you calling my defense of Confederate statues “nonsense”?
Some of the things you write in ‘defense’ of the Confederate monuments is nonsense, Howie. Just like your straw man argument above.
Removing a statue doesn’t erase history. But that has nothing to do with what I wrote.
The above mentioned plaque is factually in error. It is a lie. It should not be hanging in the statehouse. It should more properly be placed in a museum as part of an exhibit titled ‘Relics of the lies of deniers of the cause of the Civil War’.
Start a fund and I’ll throw another of my 2 cents in…and Howie simply made the same observation Trump did about Charlottsville when he dryly asked “What’s next? are we going to remove statues of Washington and Madison?” He was mocked for the three days it took for Soro’s army to demand exactly that.
And if you’re going after immortalized lies let’s bring it forward to the here and now and hold the promisemakers we have in office to their word or prosecute them. We are living with the consequences of having the biggest sham ever pulled on the country being put into law and you and yer buddy Joe are fixating on BS.
“The average family will save $2,500 in premiums every year!”
What I said about the defenders of the Alamo may be nonsense to you but it is a little known fact that the Texicans were were quite content to live under the rule of the Mexican government until Mexico abolished slavery. The Texas Revolution, like the Confederate rebellion, was largely about preserving slavery. The brave defenders of the Alamo and the remains of the old mission deserve their historic preservation, the same as the Confederate statues. If that’s a straw man to you, so be it.
I, for one, do not idolize Robert E. Lee or any of his statues. I do not idolize Stonewall Jackson or any of his statues. I just believe these soldiers and other Confederate soldiers fought bravely and died for, call it an evil cause if you like. The Southern states, including Texas, that were part of the Confederacy should not be coerced by BLM and guilt-ridden whites into taking down those statues and renaming public buildings that memorialized Civil War heroes.
As Fat Albert says, “the reality is that the controversy about the Confederacy is a manufactured controversy. ” Fat is spot on. No one, including the overwhelming majority of blacks, ever associated those statues with slavery or white supremacy until a few rabble rousers brought it up.
As for the plaque, if it’s inaccurate, recycle it.
Here’s the thing David, that plaque has been in the State Capital for 58 years without causing a single breath of controversy or conflict. As far as it’s role in affecting the education of our youth – from my experience, most of our youth aren’t even aware that Texas was a part of the Confederacy, let alone why. The reality is that the controversy about the Confederacy is a manufactured controversy. Taking down the plaque will not affect a single person, either positively or negatively – except for a few media types who will try to make a big story out of it, and a few snowflakes who will claim that it’s presence gives them a tummy ache or something. But hey, it’s a lot more fun, and certainly easier to issue a pronouncement about a plaque, than to actually deal with hard issues.
Is Mr. Straus courageous? I have not doubt that he is. It takes guts to stick to your guns and consistently oppose the manifest will of the political party that you are trying to lead.
Meanwhile, parents of young kids will be forced to move out of the city limits and commute awful distances while Turner and co wrecks the city with liberal fiscal policies.
But, keep focusing on the important stuff like glorifying a stupid rebellion that got lots of people killed 150 years ago. Because that is what matters.
Democrats DO need a candidate for governor, and I’m on record over sixty days ago as saying they could (and probably will) do a lot worse.