Bigpetehookem,
While I am Texas born-and-bred, I must tell you that Stephen F Austin was no "kick *** revolutionary." He was a settler, operating under Mexican immigration laws, who spent almost his entire political career working to improve relations with the Mexican government and establish Texas as a separate Mexican state from Coahuila. An active supporter of Santa Anna's rise to power, Austin was actually in Mexico City trying to negotiate Mexican statehood for Texas and moderate what he felt were too-harsh demands by Texas settlers when the revolution broke out back home.
Upon his return, he was appointed a commissioner to the U.S., and shipped off to New Orleans, where he spent the duration of the war. He wasn't even in Texas when the March 2nd Constitution was signed, when the Battle of San Jacinto was fought, or when Santa Anna was captured, He didn't even learn of Texas' victory until two months later, in June, and he didn't return to Texas until August.
Upon his return after the war, he unsuccessfully ran for President of Texas, losing to Sam Houston, garnering less than 10% of the votes. (Actually, he came in 3rd; Henry Smith came in second). He died just a couple of months thereafter, in December 1836, just eight months after the Battle of San Jacinto.
As I said, I'm a loyal, native Texan, but let's not re-write history.
