by John C. Calhoun, the Secretary of State under Tyler, and by J. P. Henderson and Isaac Van Zandt, representatives of Texas. In June, 1844, however, the United States Senate refused to confirm the treaty.

The Cry "Polk and Texas" Wins an Election.— This decision was not final; the people were soon to decide the matter themselves. In the Presidential campaign of November, 1844, "Polk and Texas," or "Clay and no Texas," was the battle-cry. France and England did all in their power to keep Texas from the United States; among other inducements, they offered her complete protection from Mexico. This action on the part of these two great nations had a good effect upon the United States, whose people saw if she did not hasten to receive Texas, the Lone Star Republic would come under the influence of some other country. Polk's party argued that this would never do; they showed, also, that if England or France once gained a foothold in Texas, the United States would be compelled, for her own safety, to burden herself with vast standing armies. The election resulted in the choice of Polk. This decided that Texas would soon become one of the United States, if she so desired.

Condition of Texas.- December, 1844, the close of Houston's administration, found Texas improved in finances, the Indian question better regulated, the country rapidly developing, and all prospects encouraging. The candidates for the Presidency were Anson Jones and Edward Burleson. Dr. Jones was elected.

JONES'S ADMINISTRATION 9

[Kenneth L. Anderson, Vice-President]

President's Position.- President Jones's position was a trying one. Annexation was publicly discussed throughout Texas

and the United States. Mexico, France and England were making every advance to Texas, trying to persuade her to remain independent of the United States. To keep all proposals unanswered for several months, and give offense to none of the nations, was the task that confronted the Presi

dent and his able Secretary of State, Dr. Ashbel Smith. Annexation Resolution Passes Congress.- On February 25, 1845, there passed the lower house of the United States Congress a joint resolution offering under certain conditions annexation to Texas. In the Senate this resolution, after being somewhat changed, passed. On February 25th the amended bill was finally passed by the House of Representatives. One of the last official acts of President Tyler was to sign the bill, thus making it a law.

Dr. Ashbel Smith

Offers from Mexico.- At this time Santa Anna was out of office and General Herrera was in control of Mexican affairs. Dr. Ashbel Smith secured (May, 1845), Mexico's signature to a treaty of peace recognizing the independence of Texas, provided Texas would promise to refuse the offer of annexation. President Jones said he would submit both propositions that of the

United States and that of Mexico -to the people of his Republic.

Texas Accepts Annexation.- On June 16, the Texan Congress met in special session; on July 4 a conven

tion was called: both these bodies rejected the offer from Mexico and accepted annexation. On October 13th, the people of Texas voted almost unanimously to accept annexation, and also to adopt the State Constitution. The laws of the United States were extended over Texas in December; on February 19, 1846, both the laws and postal service of the United States became those of Texas, and President Jones

gave way to the first Governor of the State of Texas.10 Thus the Republic of the Lone Star was by her own hand blotted out from the catalogue of nations, but in her place gleams a radiant planet that revolves in the peaceful firmament of the "Red, White, and Blue." 11

SUMMARY OF ERA V

In September, 1836, the people of the Texas Republic adopted a Constitution, elected General Sam Houston President, and declared themselves in favor of being annexed to the United States. The United States recognized (1837) the independence of Texas, but did not consider the question of annexation. The Supreme Court was organized, a general land office was established, land laws were passed, post-offices and mail routes were opened and the army was furloughed.

During the term of the second President, Mirabeau Lamar (1838-1841), France, Holland, England and Belgium recognized the Texas Republic. The Cherokee and the Comanche Indians were crushed. The Santa Fé expedition, having for its purpose the winning of New Mexico, failed. Austin was selected (1839) as the capital. The foundation of a public school system was laid. The finances of Texas grew worse each year.

General Houston served a second term as President (18411844). Mexicans invaded Texas (March, 1842), and took possession of San Antonio, Refugio and Goliad, but in a few days withdrew across the border; in September a second invasion occurred in which Captain Dawson and his men were massacred, but the Texans gained a victory at the Salado. The Mexicans again withdrew. The Mier expedition, organized to invade Mexico, was marked by the battle of Mier (December, 1842), the surrender of the Texans, their imprisonment and escape, and the fatal lottery. The Snively expedition also failed. Texas appealed to the Great Powers, protesting against the inhuman modes of warfare used by Mexico. The Archive War, the Regulators and Moderators and disagreements between President Houston and Commodore Moore, created disturbances within the Republic. Finances improved. The election of Polk as President of the United States, meant that the people desired the annexation of Texas.

Under the last Texas president, Anson Jones (1844-1846), the Republic ceased to exist and Texas became a state of the American Union.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS

here

[See also Bolton and Barker's "With the Makers of Texas," page 219-272.]

Reminiscences of Mrs. Dilue Harris, [Quarterly Texas State Historical Association, January, 1904.]

"Bray's Bayou, 1838."

GOOD TIMES.

"We enjoyed our new home very much, for we could attend church, a blessing we had been deprived of since the year 1833. Houson had improved considerably for a town not two years old. A steamboat had arrived. . . . Everybody was highly elated, as the farmers were going to plant cotton. The planters from Mississippi with their slaves were located on the Brazos. A Mr. Jonathan Waters was going to build a cotton gin on the Brazos.

"I attended school during the summer. At this time there was no church building in Houston, nor any preacher stationed there. The first sermon I heard preached in Houston was delivered by a Presbyterian minister by the name of Sullivan. He preached in the Hall of Representatives in the old Capitol. There had been built a court house and jail, both of them of logs. . . . With other evils, a great many gamblers had been put out of the State of Mississippi and, as it was believed that a large amount of money had been captured from the Mexicans at San Jacinto, Houston was considered the El Dorado of the West. There had been several good houses built in Houston.

PRESIDENT HOUSTON AT A BALL.

"Mr. Ben Fort Smith built a large two-story house to be used for a hotel. It was opened with a grand ball on the 21st of April, the second anniversary of San Jacinto. ... The second story of the house had not been partitioned off for bedrooms, and it made a fine hall for dancing. There were three hundred people present, but not more than sixty ladies, including