The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915 Page: 79

Southern Opposition to the Annexation of Texas

make outselves a party to the war. Nor can we take this
step, without incurring this heavy responsibility, until Mexico
shall recognize the independence of her revolted province."4
As Dr. Garrison further points out, the committee on federal
relations of the house of representatives reported favorably upon
the portion of the governor's message referring to Texas and
Mexico; the senate committee, however, reported unfavorably,
through its chairman, James Hamilton; and the committee report
was adopted by the senate. The committee agrees with the gov-
ernor regarding the policy of neutrality, but differs upon the
"declaration that both Mexico and Texas are equally entitled to
our sympathy, which is precisely tantamount to saying that
neither can invoke any such feeling, for it will scarcely be pre-
tended that Mexico .. . can put in any such claim.
The cause of Texas is identical with the cause which severed the
colonies of North America . . ." The colonization of Texas
and the causes of the Revolution are reviewed; the action of
Americans in volunteering for the Revolution is excused. Al-
though the governor's policy of neutrality is a wise one,
yet the interest which our people feel in her future destiny is in
no small degree augmented by her having not only domestic in-
stitutions analogous to our own, but from the fact that she has
already been threatened with the hostility of Great Britain and
the opposition of some of the free states of our union, by reason
of these very institutions. . . . These events .. . teach
us . . . the important duty of looking well to our own inter-
ests: of husbanding the good will and nourishing the sympathy
of those who may be in alliance with us on the vast and momen-
tous relations of property, and social organization, which may be
destined to be touched by the hand of ruthless ambition, . .
guided by the madness of a blind and pernicious fanaticism.5
A commentary upon the meaning of this report is found in an
after-dinner speech by Hamilton at a public dinner given in his
honor at Houston, March 21, 1839, upon the occasion of his
first visit to Texas." "Gentlemen," he says in response to a toast
in his honor,
'Niles' Register, LI, 229-30.
5Ibid., LI, 277.
'Telegraph and Teaas Register, - ?