Columbia

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's the story of Columbia — and it's a story that moves fast, burns bright, and leaves a mark that outlasts any capital building. September of 1836. The ad interim government of the Republic of Texas is pulled up from Velasco and set down in Columbia — the place now known as West Columbia.

Just like that, this small town on the Texas coastal plain becomes the capital of a brand-new republic. And things don't slow down from there. After the election called by ad interim President David G.

Burnet, the first permanent government of the Republic goes into operation here in Columbia, in October of that same year. Two names get sworn in that day — President Sam Houston and Vice-President Mirabeau B. Lamar.

The first duly elected Congress convenes. The first Constitution of the Republic is ratified. All of it, right here.

Now take a look at the cabinet Houston assembles, because it reads like a roll call of Texas legend. Henry Smith — who by that point had already served as the first Anglo-American governor of Texas, in the 1835-36 Revolutionary provisional government over in nearby Brazoria — comes aboard as secretary of the treasury. And then there's Stephen F.

Austin. Colonizer. Father of Texas.

He takes the post of secretary of state. That last one is where the story turns heavy. The demands of that office were not light.

Austin's health broke under them. And on December 27, 1836, Stephen F. Austin died here in Columbia.

The capital didn't stay long after that. In April 1837, at the wish of President Houston, the seat of government was moved to more adequate quarters in the city of Houston. For just a few months, this was the beating heart of a republic.

It burned fast — but it was real.

What the marker says

In September 1836 Columbia, now known as West Columbia, became capital of the Republic of Texas. This took place with the removal of the ad interim government here from Velasco. After the election called by ad interim President David G. Burnet, the first permanent government of the Republic went into operation here in Columbia in October. Inaugurated were President Sam Houston and Vice-President Mirabeau B. Lamar. Under their leadership the first duly elected Congress convened and the first Constitution of the Republic was ratified. Citizens of this vicinity served the Republic. Henry Smith of nearby Brazoria prior of this time has been the first Anglo-American governor of Texas, in the 1835-36 Revolutionary provisional government. In President Houston's cabinet he was secretary of the treasury. Stephen F. Austin, colonizer and Father of Texas, was secretary of state; under the heavy demands of that office, his health broke and he died here on December 27, 1836. In April 1837 at the wish of President Houston, the seat of government was moved to more adequate quarters in the city of Houston. (1965)