WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 184 7
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upon the subject, England would acquire the control of Texas. And if the fact to be performed was one of abiding renown, it is not strange that the Ex:.President should be emulous of dis- tinction and popularity in endeavoring to effect by negotiation what he could with difficulty prevent Congress from attempting by legislation. No one will question, who is conversant with the history of annexation, that the statesmen and politicians of the United States had arrived at that state of panic which Texas had desired. England had been the scarecrow, and owing to that circumstance the policy of Texas was effected in setting the ball of annexation in motion. I will remark that for the Ex-President it was unfortunate that he alluded to the "shades of Andalusia." So far, at least, as he wished to vindicate himself from all connexion with Texas stocks and debts. The gentleman of whom he has spoken, in, no doubt, terms of merited praise, had been, if he was not at the time, largely interested in Texas stocks; and whether his "bright and accomplished mind" did not cast a glance at the benefits which would be secured to him in the acquisition of Texas by the United States, I do not pretend to say; but it was natural for him to feel a desire to secure or guard his interests. The great object of the Ex-President seems to be, as he says,_in taking the "initiative" to consummate the measure "before the speculators in Texas stocks, or holders of Texas lands would ever hear of it." Certain it is that his references have been somewhat unfortunate in relation to both stocks and lands. He may have been ignorant of all these things. I believe he was. But never- theless, it evinces a want of discernment in him to suppose that speculators would have been taken by surprise, and defeated in their objects by the promptitude of his diplomatic action. He must have been unobservant indeed, to suppose that cupidity is to be circumvented or defeated where some fifteen or twenty persons have to be consulted, or are engaged in preparing and conducting the "initiative." But I have no objection-he may have it in his own way, if he pleases. Whether Ex-President Tyler stands acquitted of "coquetry" and "flirtation" in his negotiations with Texas, I will leave to enlightened and candid statesmen to determine. Upon the as- surances which Mr. Murphy felt himself authorized to give the President of Texas, by the "initiative" spoken of by Ex-President Tyler, the Executive of Texas was induced to dispatch a minister to Washington, incurring all the dangers which could result to
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