52
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1848
squadron was sent to the Gulf, and subjected to the order of the President of Texas. Mexico was continually fulminating threats of extermination. Texas would have been unwise in her state of insecurity to have hesitated about providing for her safety. It was her duty to secure herself, that in the event of the failure of annexation, she might have a guarantee to fall back upon; and this she obtained during Mr. Tyler's administration, and before negotiations ever commenced. I am aware that this has but little connection with the subject of Yucatan, but the remarks of the honorable gentleman have caused this digression, which I have reluctantly made. I do trust that it will be regarded as consistent with every sense of duty and propriety to render the aid to Yucatan which she desires. I regard it as our duty, on the score of policy, as well as of humanity, to accord to her the protection her necessity demands. [Discussion by other Senators.] Mr. Houston. I am glad that the Senator has afforded me an opportunity of replying to a charge that was utterly un- founded. It was corrected in a communication the next day sent to an editor, which he never thought worth while to publish. What I said was, that if Texas had been guilty of coquetry with England, she would be perfectly justifiable, in consequence of the indifference with which she had been treated by the United States. It was true, that after the United States had treated Texas with indifference and even repulsion, some influence was brought to bear upon the public mind to dispose it more favorably towards Texas. The agent of the United States in Texas was a gentleman who felt deeply interested in the matter; and from a want of becoming courtesy on the part of the authorities of Texas towards the British agent, his apprehensions were greatly excited. No pains were taken to allay or countenance these apprehensions. The agent of the United States was at liberty to draw his ·own conclusions, and I would have thought it very indelicate to have instructed a minister of this enlightened Government to extend · civilities to anyone which were not agreeable to himself. 1 Congression.a.l Globe, Appendix, 1st Sess., 30th Cong., 1847-1848, pp. 603-{j07; Speeches in Congress, 1840-1849; Teleg,-cr,pk cmdi Texas Register, August 24, 1848. The occasion of the Yucatan Bill was a message from President Polk, April 29, 1848, submitting to Congress communications which had been received at the State Department from Justo Sierra, the commissioner from Yucatan, and from the governor of the same state, representing conditions of extreme suffering to which their state had been 1·educed by an uprising of Indians within its limits, and asking aid of the United
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