Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/167

Rh "This Government is duly sensible of the very friendly feelings evinced by the President of the United States in the offer to conclude a treaty for the annexation of this country, but from all the information which he has been able to obtain in relation to the views and feelings of the people of the United States he is induced to believe that its approval by the other branches of that Government would be, if not refused, at least of very uncertain attainment at this particular time; therefore, and until such an expression of their opinion can be obtained as would render this measure certain of success, the President deems it most proper and advantageous to the interests of this country to decline the proposition for concluding a treaty. In making a communication of this determination to the Government of the United States, it will be proper to inform that Government that whenever the Congress or Senate of the United States shall throw wide open the door to annexation by a resolution authorizing the President of that country to propose a treaty for the purpose, the proposition will be immediately submitted to the representatives of the people of this country, and promptly responded to on the part of its Government. The present determination of the President on this subject does not proceed from any change in his views of the general policy of the measure, but from a change m the relations of this country with other powers."

Knowing that England was pressing her powerful and friendly offices upon the Republic, the Cabinet at Washington was alarmed on receiving these instructions for the suspension of negotiations on the subject of annexation. The difficulties between England and the United States growing out of the Northeastern and Oregon boundaries proved abundantly that prejudicial consequences might ensue from allowing England to gain a foothold on our southern frontier. Fearing the result, President Tyler lost no opportunity to instruct his Secretary of State to assure the Texan Government of his earnest desire to consummate annexation. Under President Lamar's administration the question of annexation had been allowed to sleep. President Houston strove to pursue a discreet course in regard to it after his re-election. He was placed in a position of extreme delicacy. Any imprudent act or movement might prove exceedingly hazardous to the interests of the country. Occupied earnestly for some time in securing annexation, he had wisely kept his own counsel. Parties were taking strong ground for and against annexation in the United States, and it was doubtful till the presidential election in November, 1844, which party, that which rallied under the honored names of Henry Clay and Theodore Frelinghuysen for President, or that other party which supported " Polk, Dallas and Texas," was the stronger. The tariff and Texas made up the staple of the political eloquence which came from the lips of John J. Crittenden, Sergeant S. Prentiss, James C. Jones, and others known as mighty in speech among the