17
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1847
adjunct commissioner was appointed by the President, pledges were demanded by him of Mr. Murphy, based upon Mr. Upshur's letter, that a military and naval force of the United States suf- ficient for the defence of Texas, should be placed at the disposal of the President of Texas, and held subject to his orders. This was as far as Mr. Murphy felt authorized to go in the matter. Upon this, the Executive of Texas waived other demands, which were, that in the event of failure on the part of the government _of the United States, to comsumate annexation, after negotia- tions were once opened between the two governments, she should be bound to guarantee the independence of Texas, or enter into a treaty of defensive against Mexico. These demands were waived for the present, with the assurance that, previous to opening negotiations at Washington City, these pledges should be given to T'exas, through her commissioners, or the matter was to rest, as nothing less than a perfect guaranty f. or the security of Texas would be satisfactory to the President. In November, 1842, the United States, England, and France had all been invoked by Texas, and requested to act jointly or severally in producing peace between Texas and Mexico. Texas found these powers all equally well disposed to leave her to her fate, rather than risk anything in her behalf. On the part of Texas this looked like fair dealing, though she was not dealt fairly with by others. This certainly left no web of in.trique to scatter to the winds. The object of all men should be to reprehend in all others what is wrong in itself; or, in truth, to rebuke whatever deserves rebuke; but to charge either nations or individuals with faults or crimes which do not exist, because it is palatable to a morbid taste which may prevail for a time, is not suited to the intelli- gence of the age. It affords me pleasure (so far as I am connected with the transactions of that day,) to assert that I was delighted when Mr. Tyler took the official "initiative" in the measure of Annexa- tion. I thought his bold and manly course in assuming a just and proper responsibility was such as should characterize the head of a great nation. Accusations have been so frequently made against the authori- ties of Texas inclirectly, and against the representatives of foreign governments clirectly, that I have felt myself imperatively called upon to avow to all who feel an interest in learning or embracing the truth in regard to this matter, that there never was any
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