The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 278
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Texas Historical Association Quarterly
ment. They were seized, but sufficient evidence to warrant their
detention not being procured, they were allowed to put to sea.'
During the negotiations above noted, Bee had been absent from
Washington, his journey taking him as far as New Orleans. The
Texan government had undergone a change, Houston having be-
come president December 13, 1841. The frequent absences of Bee
and the barrenness of results of his mission gave ample excuse
for Houston to bring about a change of diplomats. The letter of
recall reached Washington in January, and Amory promptly for-
warded the information to South Carolina. Bee, who had re-
turned to the latter state, replied that he expected to be retained
until the treaty was concluded. Soon after, he received a second
letter of recall, the contents of which determined him not to re-
turn to Washington.2
One of the letters of recall was especially severe; it said, "I
[Anson Jones] am also directed by the President respectfully to
inform you that he views your long absence from Washington as a
desertion of your Post, injurious to the interests of this Govern-
ment and disrespectful to that of the United States."3 Bee was
naturally angered, and in a spirited answer defended his actions;
he stated that Webster had asked that negotiation of the treaty be
postponed until December, and, at the same time, that General
Hamilton, in a letter from England dated September 3, had re-
quested that he forbear for special reasons from concluding a com-
pact. Bee declared that he had taken the requisite steps to meet
Webster in December and had then set out for New Orleans by
way of South Carolina.4 Bee's defense, though vigorous, was
lame. He does not appear to have informed his government of
Hamilton's letter, and, furthermore, he was under no obligation
to comply with the request. Good diplomacy demanded caution
1Bee to Brower, September 22, 1841, Tex. Dipl. Corr., I, 518; Amory to
Jones, January 15, 1842, Ibid., I, 527-533.
2Ibid., I, 534, note a; Amory to Jones, January 20, 1842, Ibid., I, 533-
534; Bee to Webster, January 21, 1842, Ibid., I, 542.
"Letter to Bee in the handwriting of Anson Jones, but unsigned, is dated
December 27, 1841. A. L. in Diplomatic Correspondence with the U. S.,
in Texas State Library. The other letter of recall was directed to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United States and was found in the
same file as the first mentioned.
'Bee to Jones, January 27, 1842, Tew. Dipl. Corr., I, 534-536.278
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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/m1/283/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.