But the people of the new state were largely emigrants from the United States, and a majority of them wished to re-enter the Union, a step finally accomplished in 1846, after ten years of separate existence as a Republic.

The part played by the British Government in this whole episode was not a fortunate one.

It is the duty of Governments to watch over the interests of their subjects, and to guard the prestige and power of the state.

Great Britain had a perfect _right_ to take whatever steps she chose to take in regard to Texas, but the steps taken appeared to Americans to be based upon a policy antagonistic to the American expansion policy of the moment.

The Government of Great Britain appeared, indeed, to have adopted a policy of preventing the development of the power of the United States.