Memucan Hunt to {?} Irion, March 12, 1838

Summary: Hunt sent a dispatch describing his opinions on the connection between annexation and slavery. He believed the United States must annex Texas or the South would never feel secure against the rising influence of abolitionists. Hunt also suggested that making a treaty with Great Britain will defeat any chance of annexation.

TEXIAN LEGATION

WASHINGTON CITY

12th March 1838

Despatch[sic] No. 33.

SIR,

I herewith, transmit a copy of Mr. Forsyth's reply to my note of the 8th., communicated in my despatch[sic] of the 9th instant, which I wish you to mark "Despatch[sic] No. 32," as it was unintentionally neglected.

You will perceive that the tenor of this note, is entirely amicable, and I most sincerely hope that, nothing unpleasant will result from the proceedings of the two Governments upon the frontier.

I alluded in my last, to the propriety and possibility of my returning home, if but for a short time, during the approaching session of Congress. This, however, I shall decline for the present, unless my recent request to be recalled, be complied with in the mean time.

The object I then had in view, was to enable myself to express more at large and particularly, my opinion as to the delicate attitude of the United States, in reference to the question of annexation. This I will now endeavour to do in verry[sic] few words.

It is decidedly my opinion, and that of many distinguished gentlemen from the Southern States, that unless Texas is annexed, this Union will, at no distant period, be dissolved; say a few years. This will be the result of an interference on the part of the Northern States with the institutions of slavery in the South. Whereas, the annexation of Texas would give a preponderence in the Senate in favour of the South, and thereby, afford an ample security against the encroachments of the North, in the representative branch of the Government.

But should annexation fail, a similar security could be anticipated from no other source.

The ratification by Texas, of a treaty between that country and Great Britain, would indefinitely pos[t]pone the question of annexation here, as the Constitution of the United States precludes the admission of a state, whose duties and foreign policy differ from the rest.

Domestic Slavery in the United States and Texas, must, from various circumstances, stand or fall together. The failure of annexation will hazard an attack upon those institutions in civil warfare between the States holding, and those opposed; for the fanatical spirit of abolition, is unquestionably on the increase, and will so continue, in my humble judgment, unless annexation should ultimately prevail. Should this be the case, it would be so great a triumph as to check its progress, if not entirely, certainly to an extent, that would cause the slave holding States, as well as Texas, to feel a perfect security.

Apart from this question, there can be but one opinion as to the propriety of concluding treaties, with foreign powers, at as early a day as practicable. But that institution, should Texas remain alone, would make her the only sovereignty where slavery is common throughout; and as such, would subject her to assault from any quarter. While on the other hand, an union with the United States, would secure at once, the sympathy of the South upon that subject, and the friendship of the North from motives equally strong, those of permanent interest.

This must be my apology for recuring so often and so zealously to this subject.

I have the honor to be

Your obt. servant

MEMUCAN HUNT

To the Honorable

R.A. Irion,

Secretary of State.

Source Copy Consulted: Memucan Hunt to {?} Irion, March 12, 1838, in George Garrison, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republic of Texas, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1908, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1911), 3 vols., 2:316-317