The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921 Page: 248

248 The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
had declared independence and organized a government ad interim,
it was natural to suppose that the government would push the
question of recognition with energy. On March 19, David G.
Burnet, president of the government ad interim, appointed George
Childress and Robert Hamilton as agents to the United States to
open negotiations for "a recognition of the Sovereignty and Inde-
pendence of Texas." However, he recalled them, and appointed
James Collinsworth and Peter W. Grayson as commissioners to
the United States to solicit the recognition of the independence
of Texas by the United States and the annexation of Texas to the
United States. Since they did not arrive in Washington until
July 8, Congress had adjourned, and President Jackson was on
the point of leaving for his home at Nashville, Tennessee, Collins-
worth went on to Nashville, to converse more at length with Presi-
dent Jackson. Grayson remained in Washington, hoping to open
official communication with the authorities there. However, when
he presented his credentials, he found that President Burnet had
issued them without the seal of state or even his own private seal;
so, accordingly, before anything could be accomplished, it was
necessary to secure new credentials. He immediately wrote Presi-
dent Burnet asking that new credentials be forwarded him with-
out delay, but no attention was paid to his request. However, he
remained at Washington until November. At this time he re-
ceived a letter from President Burnet announcing that the Sep-
tember elections had been held, and that the new government
would doubtless appoint at an early date commissioners to Wash-
ington.2 Therefore, when the commission of Collinsworth and
Grayson expired with that of the provisional government, October
22, 1836, the status of the question of recognition was as yet prac-
tically untouched so far as any effort on the part of the Texas
agents was concerned.
At the general election in September, General Houston was
chosen president, and M. B. Lamar, vice-president; and Houston
appointed Henry Smith, secretary of the treasury, and Stephen F.
Austin, secretary of state. After the government was organized,
'Burnet to, Childress, March 19, 1836. Garrison, Diplomatic Corre-
spondence of the Republic of Texas, I, 73-74, in Am. Hist. Assn. Report,
1907, II.
'Burnet to Grayson, September 12, 1836. Garrison, Diplomatic Corre-
spondence of the Repo&blic of Texas, I, 123, in Am. Hist. Assn. Report,
1907, II.