Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/386

 If the treaty is not ratified I will require all future negotiations to be transferred to Texas. I have written much more than what I expected, and it seems to me that I have run into a prosaic strain. As I have many letters to answer, I pray you to think that I have not been grudging with you.

Truly your friend,

, February 16, 1844.


 * —Your several favors of the last month have reached me safely and with expedition. I have given all the attention to their contents which your views, as well as the subject-matter itself, demanded. You are fully aware that every circumstance in which you feel a deep interest, or whatever may concern you individually, awakens in me emotions of the liveliest regard.

It is natural to suppose that the subject of the annexation of Texas to the United States has commanded the most profound deliberation of which I am capable. Heretofore, the demeanor of the United States toward us has been such as to discourage any hope which the friends of the measure might entertain. Our situation also has been peculiar and difficult. I have found myself surrounded with internal difficulties as well as external dangers. It was my duty, as Executive, to have an eye to every emergency which inight possibly arise. My situation certainly might have excused, or even justified, a compromittal on my part, with the hope of securing for my country a respite from existing calamities. I am happy to assure you, however, that I have incurred no committal prejudicial to her interests or my own honor, and am free to take any action which her future welfare may require, and be perfectly vindicated from any imputation of bad faith toward any nation or individual. This assurance may appear strange to you, for I assure you it is even surprising to myself, that the necessities of our circumstances had not suggested some hazardous measure for their alleviation or improvement. So far as I am concerned, or my hearty co-operation required, I am determined upon immediate annexation to the United States.

It is not the result of feeling, nor can I believe that the measure would be as advantageous to Texas if she had permanent peace, as it is indispensably necessary to the United States. Texas, with peace, could exist without the United States, but the United States can not, without great hazard to the security of their institutions, exist without Texas. The United States are one of the rival powers of the earth, and from their importance, as well as the peculiarity of their institutions and the extent of their commercial relations, they must expect, at no distant day, wars, the object of which will be to prevent their continuance, if possible, as a nation. Situated as Texas is, in point of locality, with peace she would have nothing to apprehend for years to come. Other nations would not dread her rivalry, but rather count her friendship for commercial advantage. Her people would have nothing to divert them frotn their agricultural pursuits. Her advancement in the arts of peace and commerce would be inevitable. With a government requiring trifling expenditures, and a tariff much