On December 29, the United States Congress voted to annex Texas. Statehood was first proposed in 1837, but was rejected by President Martin Van Buren. Constitutional scruples and fear of war with Mexico were the reasons given for the rejection, but antislavery sentiment in the United States undoubtedly influenced Van Buren and continued to be the chief obstacle to annexation. Under President James Polk, the United States Congress approved an annexation resolution in February 1845. The Texas Congress and a convention of elected delegates voted for annexation, and it was ratified by a popular vote in October 1845, followed by congressional acceptance of the annexation two months later. On February 19, 1846, President Anson Jones of the Republic of Texas handed over control of the new state government to Governor James Pinckney Henderson.