Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/140



the most important matters which engaged the attention of Gen. Houston in the beginning of his administration, was the feasibility of annexing Texas to the United States.

Instructions were sent to Col. Wm. H. Wharton, Minister from Texas to the Government of the United States, at Washington city, to commence negotiations with President Jackson for annexation. Shortly afterward, Memucan Hunt, Esq., was sent to act in concert with Col. Wharton in promoting this important object.

Gen. Jackson had been familiar with all the movements touching Anglo-Saxon occupancy of Texas. He corresponded with Gen. Houston, to whom he was affectionately attached. He counseled and advised Houston in his most important movements, even to the Fabian policy of retreating before Santa Anna to the field of San Jacinto, and if driven from there, to retreat to the Sabine, to the vicinity of the United States troops then stationed in Louisiana. Gen. Jackson exhibited remarkable caution in dealing with the matter of annexation; he dispatched, in the summer of 1836, a confidential agent to Texas, who explored the Territory, rigorously investigated the administration of its government, associated with the people, and observed the character of society; familiarized himself with its resources, and made a report to the President and Cabinet at Washington. The President and his Cabinet became satisfied from this report that Texas was entitled, according to the law of nations, to a recognition of her independence. In the struggle of Texas for freedom. Gen. Jackson deeply sympathized. After independence had been achieved on the battle-field, he did not doubt that some day Texas would be annexed to the United States; for wise reasons he did not express such an opinion, and would not press recognition upon Congress. He used the following language in his message to Congress, December 5, 1836, after