The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 200
409 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
It was one of the first acts of the General Council of the Mexi-
can State of Texas, in the very midst of its desperate struggle
to preserve a free and independent republican government, to
authorize the purchase, among the greatest works of legal sci-
ence, of a copy of "Kent's Commentaries." The delegates to
that Council, desiring to emancipate the State from the servitude
of opinion and of law, as well as from the more pressing burden
of tyrannical power, wisely thought that they could derive, from
no other source, higher or more invigorating lessons.
Knowledge that his Commentaries had been a vehicle
for the transit of the common law into "this province
of New Spain" could not but have been pleasing to
Chancellor Kent; although, ironically enough, he had
like the other Whigs of the day been opposed to the
annexation of Texas and to the Mexican War.
Charles A. Timm, who teaches international politics at the
University of Texas, writes as follows about Texas history.
Why should a teacher of international politics be particu-
larly interested in Texas history? The reason is simple and
clear. The study of international relations, both of peace and
of war, reveals the essential nature of the rise and fall of
states and empires, whether from internal weaknesses or from
external attack. It shows that those peoples who are most
historically minded, not in order to worship the past and its
traditions and institutions, but rather to know, to love, and
to build upon that past and its best achievements, are the ones
most likely to possess an enduring and fruitful culture and
thus make the greatest contributions to human happiness.
Stated in another fashion, we learn from this study that in-
ternational politics never exists in a vacuum, in a world apart,
but is always finally resolved into terms of human life in
localities, whether large or small.
The internationalist who is a native Texan has an even strong-
er reason for a genuine interest in Texas history. Records
of international relations show that no people can be secure
in their own local state, however patriotic they may be or
whatever the degree of success of their social institutions, so
long as international relations are left in a state of virtual
anarchy. Inevitably, sooner or later, conflicts develop that
sweep over the most peaceful and cultured peoples. In short,
if we would serve Texas wisely and well, not only must we
build a humane civilization in our midst, drawing inspiration,200
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/214/?rotate=270: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.