Washington City
Jan 24 1845
Mary,
I have nothing new to write which would
be to you of interest. We have had a long and
exciting debate on the annexation of Texas which
closed yesterday and the vote was taken & decided
in favor of annexation by 22 majority, an unexpected
number. It now goes to the Senate and though I
have heretofore considered it would not pass that
body this winter yet the large majority it obtained
in our hour may have such effect in the Senate
that it may pass but enough of that.
I am now quite as well as usual but
my troubles me very much. That you will
know is much more troublesome than dangerous.
The weather is much more mild here than it was
last winter and society & intercourse is dull.
That troubles me not. I am pleased with my quiet
quarters but am pleased to remember that consid-
erable more than half the session has passed and
the time of returning to my family approaches.
Mary, I look back at my services of last
summer and fall and resolve I will not so
imply the next. I am resolved of life & health
is spared to us and ours that next summer shall
be one of some rest & relaxation. It is not
however for myself merely that this is dream
It is for the peace & enjoyment of my family
I have [dull] occasion of gratitude
to God for the manner in which I have been
undeservedly blessed in my family relations in
life. With the wife of my youth, faithful
affectionate, prudent, judicious, bearing with
kindness all my peculiarity. With her .I
have [dull] occasion of satisfaction and content
& [want] her in no respect different except one
that is, I wish her as happy as she is deserving
& that is greatly. I would she was as well sat
isfied as I am satisfied with her and that she
to me
she would always feel & speak & act ^ as becomes
a wife who has her husbands entire confidence
and affection, which is truly the case
As to my children, the children of this
wife of my affections, they have been much
better than such a father deserved, and I
commend them all to God for his [Leaping]
and direction
Mary, I could not let the long Texas
debate pass without speaking & both Mr
Marsh & myself have spoken and I spent
about one week in preparation and
must now spend a few days in writing
it out for publication.
The navigation on the Potomac has stopped
for the winter though the river has no ice. This
prevents having anything from Edwin Wright
or Mary Johnson
Nothing further occurs to me at present,
which I wish to write. Only to send my
love to my children and my respects to my
friends.
Affectionately
Yours
J. Collamer
Mary N. Collamer