The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 275
382 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Diplomatic Relations of Texas and the United States 275
treaty was not ratified until June, 1842. A commercial treaty
with the Netherlands was signed September 18, 1840, and was
ratified in June, 1841.1
It is time now to return to affairs at Washington. The Texas
government early in 1841 decided to open negotiations with the
United States in regard to the making of a treaty of commerce.
Certain other questions, such as Indian depredations and extra-
dition of criminals needed settlement.2 The inauguration and death
of Harrison delayed negotiations, and it was not until April 12
that Bee saw fit to open discussion with Webster, now Secretary
of State under Tyler. Bee called upon Webster who received him
in a friendly manner, whereupon the subject of a treaty was
broached, Bee suggesting that the negotiations be carried on in
Texas. Webster replied that he would reflect upon it, but thought
that both he and the Secretary of War would prefer to attend to
it at Washington, implying that he would be willing to negotiate."
Without waiting to follow up his first success, Bee set out for
South Carolina on another visit, leaving Amory in charge. He
perhaps felt justified in leaving his post, as he had not received
definite authority to negotiate a treaty. He was aware, however,
that his absence from Washington was displeasing to the home
government.4
Further instructions concerning negotiations having been re-
ceived, Amory informed Webster that his government was desirous
of concluding a treaty as speedily as possible; he reviewed the
Indian question, and suggested that the negotiations be conducted
in Texas and that an arrangement be made by which slaves should
be allowed to accompany their masters to the United States as
body-servants. This suggestion was due to the fact that the in-
troduction of slaves as body servants from Texas into the slave-
holding States had been resisted. Some of the State laws pro-
hibited it. In consequence, a treaty allowing it would have
brought the national and State governments into collision. Web-
1Tea. Dipl. Corr., II, 30-31.
2Mayfield to Bee, February 17 and March 22, 1841, Ibid., II, 75-78.
aAmory to Mayfield, April 14, 1841, Ibid., I, 486-487.
4Waples to Amory, January 5, 1841, Ibid., II, 72-73; Amory to Mayfield,
April 23, 1841, Ibid., I, 489-493; Mayfield to Amory, April 24, 1841, Ibid.,
II, 86-87.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912, periodical, 1912; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101056/m1/280/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.