LUBBOCK, Texas -
Daniel Miller and others with the Texas Nationalist Movement say the outlook for their cause is still bright.
"Future generations will look back at that moment in this last week and realize what a historic thing took place at the Dallas Convention Center," said Daniel Miller, president of the TNM.
Secessionists had the opportunity to add non-binding language to the party platform, to call for a vote on independence.
The language failed to pass out of the final platform, but it was brought back to the floor of the convention for debate and a voice vote.
"It was obvious that the nays had it and it was probably a little more than two-thirds were nay on Texas secession," said Carl Tepper, Lubbock County Republican Party Chairman.
He says many in the party just don't consider this a Republican issue.
"This is a national issue," he said. "Perhaps it should go through different channels if you want to secede or go through the legislature or something, but a lot of people felt like it had no place in the Republican Party platform."
Miller said another key plank regarding freedom and sovereignty of the state passed.
"To amend the state sovereignty plank, to explicitly acknowledge not only Article I, Section I of the Texas Constitution, but for the party to acknowledge that the Federal Government pursuant to Article I, Section I had impaired the right of local self government to the state of Texas, and that passed with flying colors," Miller said.
He said he is encouraged by the movement's progress.
We have essentially proven what we have been saying for years, that there is mass support for Texas Independence in Texas," he said. "At least to have a vote and a public debate on it, so I believe that we are in the best shape that we've ever been in entering in the legislative session and I feel full confidence that we will get legislation filed in the next session of the legislature calling for a vote on Texas Independence."
