The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 267

THE QUARTERLY
OF THE
TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
VOL. XV APRIL, 1912 No. 4
The publication committee and the editors disclaim responsibility for views
expressed by contributors to THE QUARTERLY.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS OF TEXAS AND THE UNITED
STATES, 1839-18431
THOMAS MAITLAND MARSHALL
During the first administration of Houston the keynotes of
Texan diplomatic relations with the United States were recogni-
tion of her independence and annexation. The first of these had
been attained by the last official act of Andrew Jackson, but an-
nexation met with greater difficulty. Opposition developed in
the United States Congress to such an extent that the offer of
annexation was withdrawn in October, 1838, two months before
the close of Houston's first administration.
The election of Lamar to the presidency of Texas brought about
a changed attitude in diplomatic relations. Lamar desired to see
Texas develop into a great independent republic; he hoped to build
up her finances, to secure the recognition of foreign powers, to
gain an acknowledgment of Texan independence from Mexico, to
xThe publication of The Texan Diplomatic Correspondence, edited by
George P. Garrison, in the Reports of the American Historical Associa-
tion, 1907 and 1908, and of the Secret Journals of the Senate, Republic of
Texas, edited by Ernest William Winkler, have made possible the writing
of this paper. They will be referred to respectively as Tex. Dipl. Corr.
and Secret Journals. The author wishes to extend his thanks to the
Editor of THE QUARTERLY and to Dr. Herbert E. Bolton, in whose seminar
this paper was prepared, for many helpful suggestions.