Houston was a popular hero; Texas was his child, and he
was unanimously chosen President of the new Republic. From the first,
Houston, recalling the wishes of his old leader, Andrew Jackson, sought
annexation to the United States, and the debates over the question in
Congress nearly disrupted the Union. For the North feared the effects of
such a tremendous addition to slave territory, from which three or four
states might be carved, and so destroy the balance of power between
North and South. Again, Mexico, which still dreamed of reconquering
Texas, notified the United States that annexation would be considered a
declaration of war; but Houston pressed the question with great
adroitness, it was evident that Texas really belonged in the Union, and
on March 1, 1845, Congress passed the resolution of annexation, and
Houston and Husk, the heroes of San Jacinto, were at once elected
senators.
In the brief but brilliant war with Mexico which followed, which is
considered more in detail in connection with the life of Winfield Scott,
and which resulted in the securing of the great Southwest for the United
States, Houston played no part, except as a member of the Senate, where
he remained until 1859, being defeated finally by a secessionist. For,
true to the precepts of Jackson, he was from the first bitterly opposed
to nullification and secession.
Pages:
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257