Other considerations of a controlling character influenced the course of the Executive.  The treaty which had thus been negotiated had failed to receive the ratification of the Senate.  One of the chief objections which was urged against it was found to consist in the fact that the question of annexation had not been submitted to the ordeal of public opinion in the United States.  However untenable such an objection was esteemed to be, in view of the unquestionable power of the Executive to negotiate the treaty and the great and lasting interests involved in the question, I felt it to be my duty to submit the whole subject to Congress as the best expounders of popular sentiment.  No definitive action having been taken on the subject by Congress, the question referred itself directly to the decision of the States and people.  The great popular election which has just terminated afforded the best opportunity of ascertaining the will of the States and the people upon it.  Pending that issue it became the imperative duty of the Executive to inform Mexico that the question of annexation was still before the American people, and that until their decision was pronounced any serious invasion of Texas would be regarded as an attempt to forestall their judgment and could not be looked upon with indifference.  I am most happy to inform you that no such invasion has taken place; and I trust that whatever your action may be upon it Mexico will see the importance of deciding the matter by a resort to peaceful expedients in preference to those of arms.  The decision of the people and the States on this great and interesting subject has been decisively manifested.  The question of annexation has been presented nakedly to their consideration.  By the treaty itself all collateral and incidental issues which were calculated to divide and distract the public councils were carefully avoided.  These were left to the wisdom of the future to determine.  It presented, I repeat, the isolated question of annexation, and in that form it has been submitted to the ordeal of public sentiment.  A controlling majority of the people and a large majority of the States have declared in favor of immediate annexation.  Instructions have thus come up to both branches of Congress from their respective constituents in terms the most emphatic.  It is the will of both the people and the States that Texas shall be annexed to the Union promptly and immediately.  It may be hoped that in carrying into execution the public will thus declared all collateral issues may be avoided.  Future Legislatures can best decide as to the number of States which should be formed out of the territory when the time has arrived for deciding that question.  So with all others.  By the treaty the United States assumed the payment of the debts of Texas to an amount not exceeding $10,000,000, to be paid, with the exception of a sum falling short of $400,000, exclusively out of the proceeds of the sales of her public lands.  We could not with honor take the lands without assuming the full payment of all incumbrances upon them.