THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS. United States' claim to, yielded, 1819. Became CHAPTER VI ANNEXATION OF TEXAS The annexation of Texas, in 1845, was secured only after many years of discussion. As was noticed in the Louisana study the United States had a fair claim to it from that purchase. However whatever right they had was yielded in 1819 with the purchase of Florida. Almost immediately thereafter efforts were made looking to its re-acquisition. J. Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson both sought to purchase it, but found Mexico unwilling to dismember itself. Then came its independence in 1836, and the negotiations looking to its absorption by the United States. The following extracts will trace in a fair measure the steps in the later-history, and will illustrate the nature of the arguments used by those who favored, and by those who opposed the annexation. It will be noticed that with rare exceptions the opponents came from the North, and mainly from the whig party. The arguments were on both sides based on the expediency and the constitutionality of the measure. The student will find an interesting problem in tracing down the new issue that came in with this expansion. A careful study should be made of the boundaries of Texas now, as compared with the limits she claimed in 1845, at the time of her admission into the Union. › On the whole it may be claimed that with the annexation of Texas forces were set at work that did not cease to operate for many years, and in their effects greatly changed the entire tendency of our national life. Joint resolution for annexing Texas to the United States. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the territory properly included within, and rightfully belonging to, the Republic of Texas, may be erected into a new State, to be called the State of Texas, with a republican form of government, to be adopted by the people of said republic, by deputies in convention assembled, with the consent of the existing government, in order that the same may be admitted as one of the States of this Union. 2. And be it further resolved, That the foregoing consent of Congress is given upon the following conditions and with the following guarantees, to-wit: First, Said State to be formed, subject to the adjustment by this government of all questions of boundary that may arise with other governments; and the constitution thereof, with the proper evidence of its adoption by the people of said Republic of Texas, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, to be laid before Congress for its final action on or before the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six. Second. Said State when admitted into the Union, after ceding to the United States all public edifices, fortifications, barracks, ports and harbors, navy and navy yards, docks, magazines, arms, armaments, and all other property and means pertaining to the public defense, belonging to said Republic of Texas, shall retain all the public funds, debts, taxes, and dues of every kind, which may belong to or be due and owing said republic; and shall also retain all the vacant and unappropriated lands lying within its limits, to be applied to the payment of the debts and liabilities of said republic of Texas, and the residue of said lands, after discharging said debts and liabilities, to be disposed of as said State may direct; but in no event are said debts and liabilities to become a charge upon the government of the United States. Third. New States, of convenient size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas, and having sufficient population, may hereafter, by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the federal constitution. And such States as may be formed out of that portion of said territory lying south of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, commonly known as the Missouri Compromise line, shall be admitted into the Union, with or without slavery, as the people of cach State asking admission may desire. And in such State or States as shall be formed out of said territory, north of said Missouri Compromise line, slavery or involuntary servitude (except for crime) shall be prohibited. 3. And be it further resolved, That if the President of the United States shall, in his judgment and discretion, deem it most advisable, instead of proceeding to submit the foregoing resolution to the Republic of Texas, as an overture on the part of the United States for admission, to negotiate with that Republic-then, Be it resolved, That a State, to be formed out of the present Republic of Texas, with suitable extent and boundaries, and with two representatives in Congress, until the next apportionment of representation, shall be admitted into the Union, by virtue of this act, on an equal footing with the existing States, as soon as the terms and conditions of such admission and the cession of the remaining Texan territory to the United States shall be agreed upon by the governments of Texas and the United States; and that the sum of one hundred thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropri ated to defray the expenses of missions, and negotiations, to agree upon the terms of said admission and cession, either by treaty to be submitted to the Senate, or by articles to be submitted to the two houses of Con gress, as the President may direct. J. W. JONES, Speaker of the House of Representatives. President Protempore of the Senate. (Approved, March 1, 1845.) Executive Documents, 1st Session, 29 Congress, pp. 37, 38; also in United States Statutes, V, p. 797. President Polk's Message, 1845. In pursuance of the joint resolution of Congress, "for annexing Texas to the United States," my predecessor, on the third day of March, 1845, elected to submit the first and second sections of that resolution to the Republic of Texas, as an overture, on the part of the United States, for her admission as a State into our Union. This election I approved, and accordingly the charge d'affairs of the United States in Texas, under instructions of the tenth of March, 1845, presented these sections of the resolution for the acceptance of that Republic. The executive government, the Con-. gress, and the people of Texas in convention, have suc cessively complied with all the terms and conditions of the joint resolution. A constitution for the government of the State of Texas, formed by a convention of deputies, is herewith laid before Congress. It is well known, also, that the people of Texas at the polls have accepted the terms of annexation and ratified the constitution. As soon as the Act to admit Texas as a State shall be passed, the union of the two Republics will be consummated by their own voluntary consent. This accession to our territory has been a bloodless achievement. No arm of force has been raised to produce the result. The sword has had no part in the victory. We have not sought to extend our territorial possessions by conquest, or our republican institutions over a reluctant people. It was the deliberate homage of each people to the great principle of our Federal |