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'fEXAS STATE LIBR.\RY
stead of originating the measure, found the proposition already made by Burnet, ratified by the people and being acted on by Congress.- Houston only followed in the wake of public sentiment; and obeyed a mandate which he dared not oppose. So much for the error with which he opens his defence. General Houston claims the merit of having revived the subject of his re-induction into office in 1841. I willingly concede .to him all the credit to which the act is entitled; for it is the only voluntary one he ever committed in favor of the measure; but at the same time, I cannot allow him to escape the responsibilities of his subsequent with- drawal of the proposition; for that withdrawal is connected with cir- cumstances which if ever fully developed will cover him with eternal infamy. He says that the proposition for Annexation, was permitted to remain before the American Government "until the Armistice was proposed to Texas by Mexico." And why Wll.d it then withdrawn? Most assuredly because he preferred the propositions received from Mexico, to the one which he had made to the United States; and in order that the wisdom and virtue of the choice may be clearly under- stood by the American people, it will be necessary to enquire into the origin and character, of what he is pleased .to call the Armistice, but which in fact was no Armistice. Its history is this. The Mexican authorities had been induced, by Judge Robinson, then a prisoner in Mexico, to believe that the re- union of Texas with the Mexican government might be brought about, if a suitable overture for that purpose should be made by Mexico. The government acted upon the suggestion; and Judge Robinson was ac- cordingly despatched with a document, containing the basis of a recon- ciliation of the .two countries. In consideration of certain concessions to be made to Texas, and a general oblivion of the past, she was to return to her allegiance, and resume the station in the Mexican con- federacy. When Robinson arrived in Texas, the document he bore was laid before the President without delay. This paper contained various propositions to Texas; but all of them concluding with the fundamental Article that she was to surrender her nationality, and acknowledge the supremacy of. Mexico. For several weeks the President held them under advisement, not knowing whether to accept or reject them. A circumstance now occurred which determined his course. Capt. Elliott, the British l\Iinister to this country, received a despatch from the Mex- ican government, with a request that he would cause it to be delivered to "}Ir. Houston" as he was styled in the superscription. The despatch was forwarded at once to the President, accompanied with a letter from Capt. Elliott, strongly recommending that the overtures of Mexico should be accepted hy the Government, and acted upon without delay. His wishes were gratified. If I mistake not it was within a few hours after the reception of these documents that Gen. Houston issued a Proc- lamation" of an Armistice; and soon thereafter, despatched two con- fidential commissioners to l\lexico to negociate on the proposition from that Government. In his annual Message 3G to Congress upon the sub- ••No. 2152. "This quotation is from Houston'R mes11a,:ce of December 12, 1843 which has been published in the HouRe Journals of the Re1mblic of Texas, IX, 13, of t~e eighth srssion.
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