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 incumbencies upon them.

Nothing has occurred since your last session to induce a doubt that the dispositions of Texas remain unaltered.  No intimation of an altered determination on the part of her Government and people has been furnished to the Executive.  She still desires to throw herself under the protection of our laws and to partake of the blessings of our federative system, while every American interest would seem to require it.  The extension of our coastwise and foreign trade to an amount almost incalculable, the enlargement of the market for our manufactures, a constantly growing market for our agricultural productions, safety to our frontiers,