The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921 Page: 287
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Donelson's Mission in Behalf of Annexation
description, or with any power, he must declare, in a spirit of
justice, that no terms or conditions have ever been proposed by
the two governments in question, or either of them, as the consid-
eration of their friendly interposition.
Maturely considering the situation of affairs at that time, the
Executive felt that it was incumbent upon him not to reject this
opportunity of securing the people of this country, untrammeled
by conditions, a peaceful, honorable, and advantageous settlement
of their difficulties with Mexico, if they should see fit to adopt
that mode of adjustment.
Thus influenced, he accepted the good offices of the two powers,
which, with those of the United States, had been previously in-
voked by Texas, and placed in the hands of their representatives
a statement of conditions preliminary to a treaty of peace, which
he declared he should be ready to submit to the people of this
country for their decision and action as soon as they were adopted
by the government of Mexico. But he emphatically reminded
those functionaries, for the special notice of their governments,
that he was no more than the agent of the people; that he could
neither direct, control, nor influence their decision; and that his
bounden duty was to carry out their determination, constitution-
ally ascertained and expressed, be it what it might. Our repre-
sentative at the courts of France and Great Britain, in addition
to the task of strengthening the friendly dispositions of these gov-
ernments, was also especially instructed to press upon their at-
tention, that, if the people of Texas should determine to put an
end to the separate existence of the country, the Executive, so far
as depended upon his official action, must and would give imme-
diate and full effect to their will.
The circumstances which preceded and led to an understanding
with Mexico, have thus been stated; and the people, speaking
through their chosen organs, will now determine as they shall
judge right. But in the mean time, and until their pleasure can
be lawfully and constitutionally ascertained, it is the duty of the
Executive to secure to the nation the exercise of choice between
the alternative of peace with the world and independence, or an-
nexation and its contingencies; and he has, therefore, to issue the
following proclamation:
Whereas authentic proof has recently been laid before me, to
the effect that the Congress of Mexico has authorized the govern-
ment to open negotiations and conclude a treaty with Texas, sub-
ject to the examination and approbation of that body; and fur-
ther, that the government of Mexico has accepted the conditions
prescribed on the part of Texas as preliminary to a final and
definitive treaty of peace:
Therefore I, Anson Jones, President of the republic of Texas,
and commander-in-chief of the army and navy and militia thereof,287
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921, periodical, 1921; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101078/m1/293/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.