The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956 Page: 189
587 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Mirabeau B. Lamar and Texas Nationalism
been able myself to perceive the policy of the desired connection, or
discover in it any advantage, either civil, political, or commercial
which could possibly result to Texas. But, on the contrary, a long
train of consequences of the most appalling character and magnitude
have never failed to present themselves whenever I have entertained
the subject, and forced upon my mind the unwelcome conviction that
the step once taken would produce a lasting regret, and ultimately
prove as disastrous to our liberty and hopes as the triumphant sword
of the enemy. And I say this from no irreverence to the character and
institutions of my native country, whose welfare I have ever desired,
and do still desire above my individual happiness, but a deep and
abiding gratitude to the people of Texas, as well as a fervent devotion
to those sacred principles of government whose defence invited me to
this country, compel me to say that, however strong be my attachment
to the parent land, the land of my adoption must claim my highest
allegiance and affection.'9
Lamar warned that, if annexation should come, it would mean
that Texas would yield the rights of declaring war or making
peace, of controlling the Indian tribes within her borders, of
regulating her own commerce, and of forming her own alliances
and treaties. He looked upon annexation as the end and not the
beginning of a new era, saying:
When I reflect upon these vast and momentous consequences, so
fatal to liberty on the one hand, and so fraught with happiness and
glory on the other, I cannot regard the annexation of Texas to the
American Union in any other light than as the grave of all her hopes
of happiness and greatness; and if, contrary to the present aspect of
affairs, the amalgamation shall ever hereafter take place, I shall feel
that the blood of our martyred heroes had been shed in vain-that we
had riven the chains of Mexican despotism only to fetter our country
with indissoluble bonds, and that a young Republic just rising into
high distinction among the nations of the earth had been swallowed
up and lost, like a proud bark in a devouring vortex.20
A strong warning was sounded by Lamar that when annexation
came to Texas, slavery, "upon which our character, prosperity,
and happiness as a free people must necessarily depend,"2'1 would
be abolished. Other dreadful things awaited Texas when annexa-
tion took place. The nation would be divided into territorial
districts, it would be ruled by alien governors and judges, and
lIbid., 319.
2olIbid., 321.
2lNotes on the Annexation of Texas, December io, 1838, in ibid., 325.189
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956, periodical, 1956; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101162/m1/207/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.