Early StatehoodHouston’s 2nd PresidencyIntroAfter leaving office, Houston served in the Texas House of Reps as a Congressman from San Augustin from 1839-41.He was in the forefront of all in opposition to President Lamar’s policyHe particularly criticized Lamar’s expansionist tendencies and his harsh measures for the IndiansHouston worked hard to keep that from happeningMay 9 1840 Houston married Margaret Lea of Alabama.Strict southern BaptistStraining influence on him and stopped his drinkingThey had 8 childrenElection of 1841Got downright uglyHouston squared off against David G Burnet (former interim president who served just before Houston took office)Confirmed Houston haterOpponents could have debated real issuesSuch as public financeIndian policiesHow to deal with MexicoBut instead, the contest became personal.Burnet ridiculed Houston as a half drunken Indian known for his cowardice at San JacintoCalled Burnet a land swindler and a hog thiefBurnet challenged Houston to a duel only to be laughed at.Exchanged personal insults in the newspapersIn the end, Houston stomped Burnet3xs the votessucceeded Lamar for a second term 1841-1844Lone Star FinancesFirst annual address to congress, Houston made policy changes in order to reverse President Lamar’s mistakesWe have no money! We cannot even redeem our debtsRecommended suspending all interest and payment on the national debtDrastically limited the circulation of the RedbacksCongress in return, enthusiastically embraced his proposalsThis almost balanced the budget!He spent all of 500,000 dollars as compared to Lamar’s 5 millionHe cut his own salary along with other public officialsHe even, and the congress, tried to sell Texas's navy (all four ships) but that effort was forcibly prevented by the people of GalvestonIn the end, since Texas paid nothing on its debt, balance rose to 12 million dollars by the end of the life of the Republic of TexasBut at least he got spending under control!Indian PolicyHouston’s proposals for reestablishing peace also received support from congress and a fair number of Texas citizensIn 1842, the republic authorized trading postsSan MarcosWacoTo specifically engage in trade with the IndiansCreated the Bureau of Affairs to regulate these tradesNegotiations with the Caddo, Shawnee and the Delaware in 1843 resulted in several treaties, most notable and agreement signed at Birds Fort in Trinity calling for peace and trade between the Indians and the republicThe Witchita and the Comanche didn’t participate in the 1843 treaties so trouble with those tribes continuesContinued until Oct 1844lskdjfldfjsdlThe Penateka Comanche and the Witchita with whom he signed for another treaty providing peace and commerce.Although raids still occurred, Houston’s policies ended all major white and Indian conflict and confrontations in the RepublicNo real peace existed until white Anglos controlled all of the republicEventually saved lots of money on saving costs of manning fortsThe Trouble with MexicoMany Texans sought any excuse for conflict with MexicansFate of Lamar's Santa Fe expedition, which actually became known in Austin just as Houston was assuming his second term, gave all the Texans right to demand actionThe president prevented an outright declaration of war against Mexico.The Santa Fe expedition helped the president to avoid trouble with MexicoThis went on for quite a whileHouston patiently explained the difficulties of attacking Mexico CityNo militarySupply lines are stretched outMexico has more military than TexasAttempting a rescue would lead to prisoner executionAngry threats won't change the Mexican’s mindHouston chose instead to maintain peace with all nationsOther WoesAlthough many Texans clamored for action once again, President Houston managed to avoid war with Mexico after two Mexican invasions in 1842Mexican troops came into Texas, got mexican POW and scooted on down the road with their people and Texas couldn’t do anything about itHouston’s not stupid so after the first incursion, Houston directed the govt archives be removed from Austin and moved elsewhere.Order that ultimately resulted in the Archive War.All along, Houston has been saying that Austin is exposed to attack.Able to prove it with Mexico’s 1842 invasionsAustinites were fond of Texas and they weren’t going to let anyone run off with the archivesChased the wagons down with a cannon and got the archives backAfter the second invasion, Houston authorized a force under General Alexander Summerville to pursue the Mexican troops to the Rio Grande and if the need be, to attack MexicoPublic outcry is becoming too greatPart of Summerville’s legion is part of the Mier expeditionAn expedition that Houston opposedGo in to Mexico and fail miserablyMuch like the Santa Fe expedition1843, Houston approved the abortive Snively ExpeditionSought to run interference with trade along the Santa Fe trail.1844, Houston found it necessary to send one of his militias to the Regulator - Moderator warPresented the most vexing problems of his second administrationUltimately Houston was succeeded to the office by Annison Jones whom the electorate all viewed as a Houston man.AnnexationIntroFirst two years of his administration, although Houston spoke optimistically in public (mostly to other nations) privately, he knew that Texas had not built the internal strength necessary to survive as an independent nationToo thinly populatedToo financially unstabledebtdevalued currencyToo weak militarilyTherefore, even as the president bragged about Texas’s promise for the future, at the same time, he is opening discussions about the republican’s future with American, British and French representativesHouston the ManipulatorJan 24 1843, Houston wrote Charles Elliot (England’s rep) stationed in Galveston, a friendly letter that 9/10ths of the Texans he talked to favored the US.Leaders in Washington, regardless of sectional loyalties, also favored annexation.Stretched the truth further by saying that both parties in the US plan on advocating the policy of annexing Texas into the US in the upcoming electionIn fact, Texas and annexation had far less support in the US than Houston claimed. Whigs and abolitionists screamed so loudly at even the mention at