298
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
To J. P. HENDERSON, AND ISAAC VAN ZANDT 1
City of Houston, April 16th, 1844. Gentlemen: Your notes have both reached me, one of the 30th ult, and one of the 1st inst. Today I forward to the State De- partment all my dispatches. Col. Ashbel Smith, our charge d'affaires, writes from Paris under date 29th Feby. this important fact: "The French and British Governments have united in a Protest to the United States against annexation of Texas to the Union." This is an important fact. Never has the situation of Texas been so inter- esting since 21st of April '36, as it is at this moment. You may rely upon it, if the Government of the United States does not act immediately, and consummate the work of annexation, Texas is forever lost to them. In my opinion, England and France will say to Texas, "if you will agree to remain separate forever, from the United States, we will forthwith prevent all further molestation to you from Mexico, and guarantee you Independence, agreeably to your institutions now established and avowed." You cannot fail to discover, what would be the proper course of Texas in such an event. Texas has done all that she could do to obtain annexation, and you may rely upon this fact, in the event of a failure, that Texas will do all that it should do. If a Treaty is made, it will of course have been done after that the pledges given by the U. S. Charge d'Affaires, were recognized by his Government, and there we are secure. If a Treaty has been made and those pledges exacted by you, and it should be rejected, it will be proper to ascertain if annexation can take place by Congressional action, and this done promptly. Should all fail, you will forthwith call upon Mr. Packenham as well as the French Minister, also the Government of the United States and after suitable conversations and explanations, present to them the subject of a Triple guarantee for our Independence, and all further molestation, or at least an unlimited truce with Mexico. If after all prospect of annexation failing with the Gov- ernment of the United States, and it should refuse to unite upon the basis here laid down, you will then, so far as practicable, arrange the matter with France and England, and General Hen- derson with Mr. Miller secretary of the Secret Legation, will make a visit of leave to the Heads of the proper Departments,
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