WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1844
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would be seriously prejudiced, and that it would give just cause for complaint, the Executive is constrained to withold his approval. Sam 'Houston. 1 "Messages of the Presidents," Congressional Papers, Eighth Congress; also Executive Rec.orcl Book, No. 40, pp. 309-311, Texas State Library. Journals of the Senate of the Re7mblic of Texas, 8th Cong., 1st Sess., pp. 159-162. To THE TEXAS CoNGREss 1 Executive Department, Washington, January 20, 1844. TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Connected with our present condition our foreign relations are becoming daily more and more interesting, and it seems to me that the representatives of the people should anticipate the events which may in all probability occur. To suppose that both branches of the Honorable Congress were not aware of the important and absorbing questions which it is believed will agitate the Congress of the United States connected with the fate· of this country, would be to doubt their intelligence. The Executive, therefore, relies upon the deliberate wisdom and decision of the representatives of the people to give him all the aid in · their power to conduct the affairs of Texas to such an issue as will be promotive of its interests as a community, and at the same time gratifying to the people. Heretofore he has carefully abstained during his present administration from the expression of any opinion in reference to the subject of annexa- tion to the United States. And in submitting this communication he does not think it becoming in him now to express any pref- erence. It will be perceived by the Honorable Congress that if any effort were made on the part of this Government to effect the object of annexation, which is so desirable, and it should fail in meeting responsive and corresponding action on the part of the United States, it might have a seriously prejudicial influence upon the course which England and France might otherwise be disposed to take in our favor. And a failure on our part after a decided expression could not but be mortifying to us, and to a great extent diminish our claims to the confidence of other nations. It would create distrust on their part toward us because
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