The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917 Page: 86
426 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
induce this Government neither to assemble Congress, nor to
entertain any Negotiation for Annexation, at all events for such
a length of time as might enable our Governments to determine
the Government of Mexico to acknowledge the independence of
this Country, or failing in those efforts to provide for the emer-
gency in any equally effectual manner by diplomatic Act in
Europe with the representatives of this Republic.
The President was not at Washington on the Evening of our
arrival, but we had the advantage of full and frank communi-
cation with Mr Ashbel Smith, and next morning with His Ex-
cellency himself. We read to him our Instructions, and urged
every argument that presented itself to us, whether founded upon
the honour and advantage of the Country, or upon the ruinous
consequences of Annexation, and the ambiguity and doubtful
nature of the resolutions. They told us so far as they were per-
sonally concerned it was unnecessary to insist upon these views.
The President, speaking for himself, was sincerely desirous of
maintaining the independence of the Country, but we were per-
fectly aware that the Government in this Scheme of things was
but the agent of the people.
He thought therefore we must be prepared to hear that un-
less he should be very speedily enabled to offer for the decision
of the Country a Measure founded upon the acknowledgment of
the Republic by Mexico, unaccompanied by any other than the
condition to maintain their independence, He should feel that
it was in vain to resist the tide, and that it was his duty to
carry out the wish of the people whatever it may be. He was
sensible however, of the risks and inconveniences of assembling
the present Congress, or of the Meeting in Texas of the Com-
mission of Negotiation from the United States, and was certainly
prepared to incur every proper responsibility to avoid either of
these alternatives. But it was not till the President had con-
sulted his Cabinet twice in the course of the 28th., and requested
us to meet them once, and urge our own views, that we were
enabled to dispose him to agree to the arrangement which Your
Lordship will find detailed in the Memorandum of Conference
herewith transmitted.
With the hope of facilitating that conclusion I offered after
consultation with my Colleague, to proceed myself with the ut-
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917, periodical, 1917; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101070/m1/92/?rotate=90: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.