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self to the contrary. It was under his Administration that they em- bodied their hostility to the measure. They opposed then with his approbation; and they have no reason to believe that they are not doing the same now; except his recent confession, which they know has been extorted from him by the necessity of his position. That a clear conception of his course upon this question may not be lost in the hasty diffuseness with which I am writing, I beg leave for a moment, to condense the argument, and see whether his conduct loses any of its deformity by the epitome. He first opens a negocia- tion, through the British Minister for the reunion of Texas to Mexico; and continues this negotiation, to the disrespectful neglect of the over- tures for the Annexation of the country to the American Government. Did this exhibit any friendship, for the measure which he says orig- inated under his administration? Why did he not abandon his Mexi- can policy, and enter at once upon a treaty with the American Minister. But this he could not be prevailed upon to do. Wben these negocia- tions with Santa Anna were detected and publicly resented by the peo- ple, why then did he not respond to the overtures of the United States? He could not be brought to do it; but on the contrary he exerted all the patronage of his office to have the measure assailed.-Was this pro- motive of the cause of Annexation. He requested the British Minister to assure his Government that Texas should never, if he could prevent it, become a part of the American Union; and under this official as- surance, he despatched to England an avowed enemy of the measure- a member of his cabinet-to invoke the friendship and co-operation of that Government in carrying out his views on this subject. Was this evincing any friendship for, or in any wise promoting the cause of Annexation? When his friend, Dr. Anson Jones, whose course is but a continuation of his predeceEZsors policy, attempted to supplant the Joint Resolutions, by a Treaty of Independence which the British Min- ister had been employed to obtain from Mexico-did the patronage and countenance which he gave this weak instrument of his malignity and corruption, exhibit any friendly regard for the cause of Annexa- tion? :And finally, when PreEZident Jones was called upon to convene the Congress that the Joint Resolutions might be acted upon; and when Gen. Houston was called upon also for an expression of his views at this interesting crisis-was the treasonable inaction of the one, and the ~ilty silence of the other, any very satisfactory indication of zeal for the measure. Let Gen. Houston answer these questions if he can ; for such is a plain and candid exhibition of his conduct; and embraces all the merit which he can claim upon this question. And now, Gentlemen, in the name of all that is reasonable and truthful, I would ask, in what manner is it possible that these negoci- ations-this well orµ-anized opposition-this inaction and silC'nce, and these assurances to Capt. Elliot, could promote the cause of Annexa- tion? And vet General Houston tells us that they were all intended for this special purpose. What a commentary upon the intelligence of the peonle of Texas! And fa there a man in the whole countr:v- from the Red River to the Rio Grande- of intel1eet so dull as not to know that ~ome meami more effectual than these miP.-ht have been em- ployed by Gen. Hou~ton in favor of Annexation. if he had- been the sincere and honest friend of the measure. Can nny honest man be-
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