Texas and the Massachusetts Resolutions Page: 15 of 54
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15
I PF
.0well for the character of our diplomacy, if they had continued,
as at first, contentedly to abide by the refusal.
But this was not destined to be the case. We must now
go into a very brief examination of that which Mr. Holmes
has called the " settled policy of the government," respecting
Texas. We have-no desire to say any thing unnecessarily
harsh, either of active or retired public men, but a part
of the truth, at least, must be told. The whole has never
yet been, and probably never will be, revealed to the public.
If in any particular we commit errors from want of all the
necessary evidence to substantiate our statements, we shall be
glad to be corrected. The times demand that the facts
should be presented with accuracy and without passion.
General Jackson was elected President of the United
States, and in March, 1829, assumed the office. Mr. Van
Buren became his Secretary of State. On the 25th of August
following, the latter gentleman wrote to our minister in
Mexico, that the President wished him to open, without delay,
a negotiation for the purchase of Texas. For that which
the preceding administration had not thought of offering more
than one million of dollars, the General was willing to offer
four millions of dollars, or even as much as five.
It must be noted that at this very time the government was
aware of the fact that an expedition had been fitted out by
Spain for the reconquest of Mexico, which appeared for some
time likely to be successful. We refer to that under General
Barradas. This was thought to be a highly favorable moment
to press the offer of so large a sum of money. "c It is" said
Mr. Van Buren in one of his despatches "regarded by us as
an auspicious one to secure the cession, and I will add, that
there does not appear to be any reasonable objection on the
score of delicacy, to its being embraced."
The Mexican character is somewhat peculiar. It is indolent,
but very stubborn. However delicate they might have
considered the offer at such a moment, the money was no
temptation, and the Spanish expedition came to nothing.
Mr. Poinsett was obliged to write home his conviction " that
we never can expect to extend our boundary south of the
Sabine, without quarreling with these people."
Here was a hint. How it was taken, may best be understood
by reading an extract from a newspaper, the Arkansas
Gazette of 1830, which announced, "from information derived
from a source entitled to the highest credit, that no hopes
need be entertained of our acquiring Texas, until some other
party more friendly to the United States shall predominate in
Mexico, and perhaps not until Texas shall throw of the yoke
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Adams, Charles Francis. Texas and the Massachusetts Resolutions, book, January 1, 1844; Boston, Massachusetts. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2355/m1/15/?rotate=90: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.