Arkansas and Michigan--Florida and Iowa--Texas--The Austin Grant--Local Government in Texas--The Attempts by the United States to Purchase Texas--The Texan Revolution--General Sam Houston--San Jacinto and Independence--The Recognition of the Independence of Texas--Calhoun's frank Declaration in Regard to the Annexation of Texas--The Mission of Mr. Morfit to Texas, His Report and Advice--Jackson's Recommendation to Delay the Recognition of Texan Independence--Jackson's Request of Congress for Authority to Issue an Ultimatum to Mexico in the Claims Question--Texan Independence Recognized by the United States--The Question of Annexation--Texan Proposition for Annexation--The Mexican Claims Commission and its Work--Tyler as an Advocate of Annexation--Mr. Webster in the Way of Annexation--The Adams Address on Annexation--The Retirement of Webster--The Promotion of Upshur, and His Negotiations with the Texans--The Threat of the Mexican Government to Consider the Annexation of Texas a Cause of War--The Administration Proposes Annexation to the Texan Agent--The Difficulty in the Way of Acceptance of the Proposition--The Demand of the Texans for Protection in the Interim--Mr. Calhoun in the State Department--The Treaty of Annexation Signed--The Treaty in the Senate and its Rejection--Mr. Archer's Opposition to the Treaty--The New Plan for Annexation. After the admission of Missouri there remained as territory, upon which, according to existing law, it was {290} probable that slaveholding Commonwealths would be established, only Arkansas and Florida. [Sidenote: Arkansas and Michigan.] [Sidenote: Florida and Iowa.] In 1836, Arkansas was admitted as a slaveholding Commonwealth, and Michigan as a non-slaveholding Commonwealth, thus keeping the exact balance in the Senate. By a compact of the year 1832, the Seminoles in Florida had agreed to emigrate within three years to the west bank of the Mississippi. At the end of this period, one of their chiefs, Osceola, repudiated the agreement, and with a large following began hostilities. By a long and expensive war the Indians were at last expelled; and the white inhabitants immediately chose delegates to a convention, who met, in December of 1838, formed a Commonwealth constitution, one of the provisions of which legalized slavery, and demanded of Congress admission into the Union. Congress kept Florida waiting, however, for six years, until Iowa was ready, and then admitted the two at the same time and by the same Act. [Sidenote: Texas.]