266
WRITINGS OF SAl\-I HOUSTON, 1844
me your much esteemed favors of the 17th ultimo, which I perused with much pleasure and satisfaction, and find in them a speedy end to all your embarrassments, and political troubles. I have not been an idle spectator to the difficulties with which you have been surrounded-the various slanders propogated by your enemies against you, but I knew that you possessed sufficient energy and firmness to meet them all, and put them down-You have had a difficult Task-a mixed population, heterogeneous, and, of course, difficult to govern,- I rejoice to find that you have triumphed over all your enemies, and in a fair way to become more popular in Texas than you ever have been, and your patriotism and firmness will be acknowledged by all men over the Globe, whose bosoms are animated by the love of freedom. I sincerely congratulate you upon this glorious result, and Texas upon the prospects of her safety and prosperity. Mr. Miller being anxious to proceed upon his journey, and I having received a confidential letter from the city of Washington that all things were made to close a treaty for the annexation of Texas to the United States, only awaiting the arrival of your authorized agent to conclude it, which letter I read Mr. Miller, and only detained him so long as to write to our mutual friend, R. J. Walker, and to Major Wm. B. Lewis (the confident of Mr. Tyler) bringing to their mind the necessity of seizing on the present opportune moment to have the annexation carried into effect, least [lest] if delayed, necessity might force Texas to make arrangements with Great Britain, for her safety, and for her commerce, that might loose Texas forever-bringing to their view the claim set up by Great Britain to the Oregon Territory, and if she got an ascendency over Texas, by an alliance, she would form an iron Hoop around the United States, with her West India Islands that would cost oceans of blood, and millions of money to Burst assunder. After consulting with Mr. Miller, I took the liberty of enclosing your confidential letter, in confidence, to R. J. Walker, to use confidentially to promote the approval by the Senate of the Treaty, already secretly the out- lines proposed and awaiting only your authority to send to the Senate. Mr. Miller with these letters left me on the evening of the 11th instant, intending to take the stage that night for Louisville, Kentucky, to unite with Mr. Henderson. I have no doubt but the Treaty will be ratified by the Senate lls our friends write me, that 39 senators will vote for its 1·atifica- tion, when thirty-five (35) is two-thirds. To hear that this annexation is carried into full effect, will be amongst the most happy moments of my life- The late sad catastrophe on board the steamship, Princeton, by which, with others, the Secretary of State, Judge Upsher, was killed, is to be greatly deplored-His whole soul was engaged in the accomplishment of this object, as I am well advised is also the Presidents.. The President was censured by some of the friends of this measure for not bringing the subject before Congress in his mesc;age. This would have been an unprecidented move-common sense said keep it a profound secret, until the treaty is sent to the Senate, and thus I wrote the confidential friend of the President. This prevents that arch fiend, J. Q. Adams, from writing memorials and circulating them for signatures in the opposition to the annexation of Texas, and -to prevent the ratification of the Treaty, & giving time for all the
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