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38 S. Tex. L. Rev. 801 (1997)
If at First You Don't Secede: Ten Reasons Why the Republic of Texas Movement Is Wrong

handle is hein.journals/stexlr38 and id is 813 raw text is: ESSAY IF AT FIRST You DON'T SECEDE: TEN REASONS WHY THE REPUBLIC OF TExAS MOVEMENT IS WRONG JAMES W. PAULSEN* The final act in this great drama is performed. The Republic of Texas is no more. President Anson Jones, Republic of Texas February, 18461 In the past couple of years, a small number of Texans have gained considerable notoriety through their claims that Texas is in reality an independent nation, not a constituent state of the United States. Re- cently, these assertions commanded national attention when Richard McLaren, self-styled Ambassador of the Republic of Texas, led a few followers in a week-long standoff with Texas authorities. While the confrontation ended peaceably enough, and McLaren is now in custody, the Republic of Texas movement is far from dead. In fact, at least for the short term, any negative effect of the McLaren episode may be more than offset by the concerted efforts of various Republic * Associate Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law. B.F.A. 1976, Texas Christian University; J.D. 1984, Baylor University; LL.M. 1992, Harvard University. The author has spoken and written on numerous aspects of Texas legal history, in particular, the period of the Republic and early statehood. He is secretary of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society and, by Texas Supreme Court order of April 28, 1985, was designated as reporter of decisions for the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas. The author expresses his appreciation to officers and members of Republic of Texas factions who, despite deep differences of opinion, consistently and courteously aided his research. The author also thanks C. Jean Carefoot, Josiah M. Daniel, III, Paul E. McGreal, Monica M. Ortale, Daniel M. Palacios, and Mark E. Steiner for their assistance. The title is recycled, with permission, from Alex Heard, If At First You Don't Secede, SLATE (posted May 10, 1997)<http://www.slate.com/Features/ROTSecede/ROTSecede.asp>. Through this essay, the abbreviation ROT or parentheses around the phrase Repub- lic of Texas are used to distinguish current groups from the historical Republic of Texas. 1. ANSON JONES, LETrERS RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF ANNEXATION 25 (2d ed. 1852), reprinted in ERNEST WALLACE ET AL., DOCUMENTS OF TEXAS HISTORY 160 (2d ed. 1994). Throughout this essay, Wallace's compendium will be referenced in preference to original sources because it brings together a great many relevant documents in one loca- tion. In addition, the Texas State Library is assembling an on-line collection of some core documents. See generally <http://www.tsi.state.tx.us/> (visited May 15, 1997).