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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1846
491
to her as rights, not connected with, or dependent upon, the character of individuals, but growing out of her sovereignty and the compact made with her. Mr. Jones, the President of Texas, in his message to Congress, under date of 16th June, 1845, remarked as follows: "The Executive has much satisfaction in observing, what no doubt will forcibly arrest the attention of the Congress, that although the terms embraced in the resolutions of the United States Congress may at first have appeared less favorable than was desirable for Texas, the very liberal and magnanimous views entertained by the President of the United States towards Texas, and the promises made th'rough the representatives of that cowi- try, in regard to future advantages to be extended to her if she consents to the proposed union, render those ternzs much more acceptable than they would otherwise have been." From the tenor of this reply by the President of the republic, it must be obvious to every one, that had the ground then been taken by the American Charge which some gentlemen now assume, and had the Texan navy been denounced in the proposals for annexation as it was now denounced in debate, Texas never would have been annexed to this Union. The simple question he would press upon the Senate was this: Have the pledges given to Texas been fulfilled? If they have not, and their fulfillment yet remained within the power of this Government, ought they not now to be complied with? We had still an opportunity to do justice; and if justice was denied, we should inflict an irreparable wrong. Had Mr. Donelson said to President Jones, "My dear sir, you have entirely misunderstood me; when you come into the United States, you will, of course, be in the minority, and you must run your chances on an application to have your navy admitted," it would have been a different case; but the American Charge ·used no such language, jntimated nothing of the kind, but renewed and reiterated his assurances of the attachment and good faith of the United States towards Texas. Hear what he said: "Both in the United States and here, all parties seem to have come to the conclusion, that on the basis of the first and second sections, the proposed union ought to take place, and that it is better to leave the correction of such defects as they may contain to future legislative agreements, after Texas shall have become a State, than to attempt it now." Again: "If that basis be accepted by Texas, it secures her admission into the Union with the least possible delay and expense; and it
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