The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 1, July 1897 - April, 1898 Page: 83
334 p. : ill., ports., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Annexation of Texas.
fare of Texas, but convulse the Union to a far greater extent than
ever did the tariff or "Missouri question."
The wish of every American statesman should be to preserve
the concord and union of the States; and the desire of every
Texan, to cede such rights and privileges to the Union as would
be just and proper. We should, however, retain all which would
be necessary to us as an equal member of the Confederacy, and
part with none which we should require in our new position with
a hope of regaining them at a future day. Should we entertain
such a hope it might prove fallacious, and be productive of serious
and lasting discord. Texas, if annexed, will become a part of the
United States in opposition to the wishes of a large portion of the
people of the Union, and encounter a strong political opposition.
If they are vanquished, they will retain a strong prejudice against
the cause or object of their defeat. The party favorable to the ad-
mission of Texas may or may not long retain power in the Union.
While they retain power, Texas might do well; but if it once passed
into the hands of the Opposition, she would in all probability fare
equally bad.
For these reasons, I wish that whatever rights Texas has or might
be entitled to, should be defined, and understood, and retained by
her on her admission to the Union; and this can only be done
through the action of the commissioners indicated by the amend-
ment, and without which I feel fully satisfied the bill would not
have become a law.
The "consent of the existing government" of Texas, referred to
in one portion of the act-and that recognizes some option in our
Executive as to the mode by which the affair (so far, at least, as
Texas is concerned) should be conducted-is necessary to give va-
lidity to the measure. If any commotion should arise in Texas, or
a disregard of the constitutional authority, in consequence of the
basis proposed not being accepted, I should deem it most unfor-
tunate for the fame and quiet of the President of the United
States, by thus furnishing a ground for his enemies to charge him
with producing the evil resulting from withholding the choice of
the alternatives contained in the law from the Executive of this
country.
You may find some who will express the wish or intention even
to resort to revolution to secure annexation, without knowing one
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 1, July 1897 - April, 1898, periodical, 1897/1898; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101009/m1/100/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.