The Consultation designated Henry Smith as governor.
Over the course of 1835, Smith became the leader of the Texas Independent Party, which was seeking the independence of Texas, or the Independence Party. This party met with the Peace Party at a congress in 1836 called the Consultation. At it, both parties decided whether to declare independence from Mexico immediately or not. By convincing the public of the need for an immediate declaration of independence, he helped prepare an organic law that served as a constitution for the interim government. Smith was named the governor of the interim government, but soon faced in the struggle with rivals for this post, political and personal. He dismissed the advice of the interim government, which impeached him in response. Smith refused to resign as governor in favor of James Robinson, but the matter was resolved by the 1836 Texas Convention.
