CHAPTER XVI.
But it required other negotiations and much correspondence before the question of annexation was settled at the ballot box. The following secret message was transmitted to the Congress of the Republic:
"To THE Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives:
"Connected with our present condition our foreign relations are becoming daily more and more interesting, and it seems to me that the representatives of the people should anticipate the events which may in all probability occur.
"To suppose that both branches of the Honorable Congress were not aware of the important and absorbing questions which it is believed will agitate the Congress of the United States connected with the fate of this country, would be to doubt their intelligence. The Executive, therefore, relies upon the deliberative wisdom and decision of the representatives of the people to give him all the aid in their power to conduct the affairs of Texas to such an issue as will be promotive of its interests as a community, and at the same time gratifying to the people. Heretofore he has carefully abstained during his present administration from the expression of any opinion in reference to the subject of annexation to the United States. And in submitting this communication he does not think it becoming in him now to express any preference. It will be perceived by the Honorable Congress that if any effort were made on the part of this Government to effect the object of annexation, which is so desirable, and it should fail in meeting responsive and corresponding action on the part of the United States, it might have a seriously prejudicial influence upon the course which England and France might otherwise be disposed to take in our favor. And a failure on our part after a decided expression could not but be mortifying to us, and to a great extent diminish our claims to the confidence of other nations. It would create distrust on their part toward us, because the opponents of our interests would allege there was no stability in our purposes, and therefore unsafe in other nations to cultivate very intimate relations with us, or even to maintain those which now so fortunately exist. They might apprehend that after the lapse of a few more years, Texas having acquired increased importance from their friendly aid and good offices, would be induced again by the agitation of the same question in the United States to apply for admission into the Union, and that by possibility it might be effected. Hence the utmost caution and secrecy on our part as to the true motives of our policy should be carefully observed.
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