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336
WRITINGS OF SA:M HOUSTON, 1844
And if it becomes necessary to enforce the law that has been disregarded by the Indians, troops will be sent up and stationed upon the frontier, which I am sure will not increase the hap- piness of the Indians; and no friend to the red people will wish to see such a thing. Such a thing can OI!_ly become necessary from the conduct of bad men, who will not obey the law. You will perceive from this letter, that I have had to engage Mrs. H. as amanuensis- being myself unable to write. I will endeavor to get to Washington as soon as practicable. In the meantime, I shall rest confident that the objects of this com- munication will be carried out to the full extent.
Sam Houston
'Executive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 358-360; also Pcipers on Indian Affairs, Texas State Library. Thomas G. Western. See Volume II, 512. 'John Coffee Hays. See Volume III, 106.
JULY, 1844-AUGUST, 1844
STATEMENT CONCERNING ANNEXATION 1
[About July 1, 1844] "Texas is free from all involvements and pledges; and her future course, I trust, will be marked by a proper regard for her true interests. My decided opinion is that she should maintain her present position, and act aside from every consideration but that of her own nationality. "It is now the duty of the United States to make an advance that shall not be equivocal in its character; and when she opens the door, and removes all impediments, it might be well for Texas to accept the invitation." 'John Henry Brown, History of Texas, II, 304. The date of July 1, 1844, has been arbitrarily adopted, because according to Brown, Houston's statement was made after the news that the United States Senate had rejected the treaty of annexation on June 8, 1844, had reached Texas, and Houston had received letters from the United States assuring him that "annexation, at some period, not remote, was inevitable." In reply to that assurance he made the statement of this document. It must have been some time near July 1.
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