Anson Jones Speech to Congress June 16, 1845

Executive Department

Washington, June 16, 1845

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

I am happy to greet you on this interesting occasion, as the representatives of the people, again assembled in the discharge of your high and important duties. The call of an extraordinary session of Congress at this early day, by the Executive, was not made without the most mature deliberation, and a due reference to the great crisis which has arisen since your late adjournment, in the affairs of Texas, as well as the almost unanimous expression of public will, which took place throughout the country, in regard to the same.

The Executive has now the pleasure to transmit to the Honorable Congress, for such action as they may deem suitable, the propositions which have been made on the part of the United States to this Government, for the annexation of Texas and its incorporation as a State into that great and kindred confederacy; together with the correspondence between the two governments, which has arisen out of the same. This correspondence, entering as it does, vey fully into the views and sentiments of the Governments in question, renders it unnecessary for the Executive to add (for the information or consideration of Congress,) but little thereto in reference to the proposed measure.

The Executive has much satisfaction in observing, what no doubt will forcibly arrest the attention of the Congress, that although the terms embraced in the resolutions of the United States Congress, may at first have appeared less favorable than was desirable for Texas, that the very liberal and magnanimous views entertained by the President of the United States towards Texas, and the promises made through the representatives of that contry in regard to the future advantages to be extended to her if she consent to the proposed union, render those terms much more acceptable than they would have otherwise have been.

The state of public opinion, and the great anxiety of the people to act definitely upon the subject of annexation by a Convention of Delegates, induced the Executive to issue his proclamation on the 4th of May, ult., recommending an election throughout the Republic on the 4th of the present month, and in assemble in Convention, at the city of Austin, on the 4th of July next. This recommendation has met the sanction of the citizens of Texas generally, and the Deputies in the several counties, so far as heard from, having been elected upon the basis proposed, it is confidently expected the Convention wel assemble at the time and place fixed upon. To this Convention the question of Annexation and the adoption of a State Constitution, will properly belong; and they will determine the great question of the nationality of Texas, as to them shall seem most conducive to the interest, happiness and property of the people whom they will represent.

It is important that the "consent of the existing government" should be given to their exercising the powers which have been delegated to them, in order to comply with a requirement to that effect in the resolutions on the subject of annexation, passed by the American Congress. For this purpose, the present extraordinary session of the Congress of the Republic of Texas has been been convokes (sic), and to its wisdom as a coordinate Department, the Executive now submits the determination of the matter.

The services to be performed by the Convention , will be arduous, and will probably engage it for a considerable period of time; and the Executive would respectfully recommend to Congress the propriety of making a suitable appropriation for the payment of its members, as well as the officers it may find occasion to employ.

The Executive has the pleasure, in addition to presenting Congress the propositions concerning Annexation , to inform them, that certain conditions preliminary to a treaty of peace, upon the basis of a recognition of the Independence of Texas by Mexico, were signed on the part of the latter, at the city of Mexico, on the 19th of May last, and were transmitted to this Government on the 2nd inst. , and by the Baron Alleye do Cyprey, Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of the French, at that court, by the hands of Capt. Elliot, H. B.M. Charge d'Affaires near this Government. In consequence of the signing of these preliminaries, the Executive believed it to be his duty in the recess of Congress, to make the fact known to the people of Texas, and to declare and proclaim a cessation of hostilities between Texas and Mexico, until the the same could be communicated to and acted upon by Congress and the Convention about to assemble. A proclamation for this purpose was consequently issued on the 4th inst., a copy of which is herewith transmitted. These preliminaries being in the nature of a treaty, will, with all the correspondence in relation thereto, be forth with communicated to the Honorable Senate for its constitutional advice, and such actin as in its wisdom the same shall seen to require. 

The alternative of Annexation or Independence, will thus be placed gefore the people of Texas, and their free, sovereign, and unbiased boice, will determine the all-important issue, and so far as it shall depend upon the Executive to act, he well give immediate and full effect to thje expression of their will.

His situation in regard to the important subjects now communicated to Congress, has, since their late adjournment, been one of great delicacy and embarrassment. Questions of much difficulty have been presented for his determination, upon which the fate and wefare of the country depended, and without precedent or constitutional guide for his governance, he has been obliged to assume in consequence, great and severe responsibilities. He trusts, however, that Congress will approve the course he has adopted, and by their enlightened counsels, relieve and direct him in the course hereafter to be pursued in relation to those questions.

The Executive is happy to announce to Congress, that Texas is at peace with the world; that with all foreign powers with whom we have had intercourse, freindly relations are maintained. The different tribes of Indians on our borders, with whom treaties exist, have continued to observe the same with good faith; and within the last few days, information has been received, that the only band of Comanches within our limits, who had attained until then a hostile attitude towards Texas, have sued for peace, and expressed a wish to permitted to come to Bexar to celebrate a treaty of friendship, which on the part of the Government, has been complied with.

The arrangements made at your regular session, for additional companies of rangers to be mustered into service, have been carried into full effect, and have afforded adequate and very efficient protection to our frontiers.  The receipts into the Treasury, have been sufficient to meet the various expenditures of the government. A specie currency has been maintained without difficulty, and nearly all the Exchequer bills which were in circulation at the period of your late adjournment, have been redeemed and withdrawn from circulation, and the Executive is happy to congratulate the Congress and the country, upon a state of peace, happiness, and prosperity never before experienced by Texas, and rarely if ever equaled by so young a nation. It only remains for the Executive to express an assured confidence in your individual wishes to sustain the best interests of Texas, and the fervent hope that He who holds the destinies of men and nations in his hand, may crown your deliberations with his richest blessings.  Anson Jones