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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1844
circumstance in which you feel a deep interest, or whatever con- cerns 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 towards us 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 might 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 prejudicia! to her interests or my own honor, and am free to bke any action which her future welfare may require, and be perfectly vindicated from any imputa- tion 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 sug- gested some hazardous measure for their alleviation or improve- ment. So far as I am concerned, or my hearty cooperation 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 insitutions, 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 may 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 from their agricultural pursuits. Her advancement in the arts of peace and commerce would be inevitable. With ·a go\'ern- ment requiring trifling expenditures, and a tariff much lower than that of the United States, she would invite the commerce of all nations to her ports, as is already, to some extent, the case; and
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