Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-06-21
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.

ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
We last week noticed the rejection of the Trea-
ty of annexation, and gave the vote thereon. AL
though the Treaty is dead, annexation is not. In.
deed, il may be said 10 be stronger than ever. On
the 10th inst. MIR Benton introduced into the Sem
ate bill providing for the annexation Of Texas,
which he accompanied with Speech Of great abil-
ity. Mr. Benton's project is more plausible, less
Objectionable and less unjust, than the silly Treaty
Of Mr. Tyler and therefore there is the more dan
ger of its being successful. With a iberality Pc
culiarly Characteristic of Southern Shareholders,
he proposes to compromise the subject of slavery
by providing that the Southern half Of the territory,
which alone is valuable and contains population,
shall be made into slaveholdng states, and that in
the remainder slavery shall be excluded. The cor
respondent OF the Evening Post says
Mr. Benton addressed the Senate for more than an
hour in strain Of ability and moderation in explanation
Of the objects Of the bill.
He dwelt at length on the history of Texas Mex
lean province and independent republic. His re-
marks the subject Of her boundaries were exceed
ngly clear He said 1t was not desirable TO acquire
any of the territory claimed by her than naturally
formed part Of the Mississippi region, that was wa
tered by her tributary streams and divided by natural
barriers from Mexico.
The line marked out by the bill, which to be the
declared basis of the intended negotiations was the
true boundary between Mexico and the United States
Our frontier had, and ought not TO extend TO the
Rio Grande Del Norte He would not accept it if Of
ered And f obtained, il clear that that boundary
would not be permanent one.
We must either retreat to that which he now propo-
scd, advance he knew not whittier The map of
Texas, prepared at the Typographical bureau the
most correct one that had evet appeared.
The area Of the country according TO that was near
" 100000 square miles, and not more, enough as he
had computed for four States but Of which could
be slaveholding community. And from this map he
discovered that the 207000OO Of land spoken Of
by the Texas Land Commissioners, would be found on
a survey 10 be undiscoverable.
The following is the bill of Mr. Benton, and the
subsequent proceedings upon the question in the
Senate and House, as given by the correspondent
Of the Journal of Commerce
BILL provide for the annexation Of Texas the
United States.
BE il enacted by the Senate and House Of Represen
atives Of the United States of America in Congress
sembed, That the President of the United States be,
ations with Mexico and Texas for the adjustment of
boundaries and the annexation of the latter TO the Uni
ted States, on the following basis to wit -
l. The boundary of the annexed territory to he in
desert prairie west Of Nueces and along the highlands
and mountain heights which divide the waters Of the
Mississippi from the waters of the Rio del Norte and
the latitude ~ degrees north.
ii. The people Of Texas, by legislative act, or by
any authentic which shows the will Of the majority
10 express their assent to said annexation.
III. State, TO be called "THF STATE OF TEXAS,
with boundaries fixed by herself and extent not
ceedng that of the largest State in the Union TO he
admitted into the UNION by virtue Of this Act an
equal footing with the original States.
~. The remainder Of the annexed territory TO be
held and disposed Of by the United States Of
their Territories, and 10 be called -" THE SOUTHWEST
THERIToRY"
" The existence Of slavery is be forever prohibit,
ed in the northern and norhw este part Of said terrific
~, TO divide, equally may be, the whole Of
the annexed country between sayehoding and non |
slaveholding States.
VI The assent of Mexico to be obtained by treaty TO
such and boundary be dispensed with
when the Congress Of the United States may deem such
assent to he unnecessary.
VII Other details Of the annexation to be adjusted
by treaty far as the may within the scope
Of the treaty making power
The bill ordered TO a second reading, and Mr. |
Allen said he would call for its 2d reading tomorrow
must here mention that Mr. Benton's speech, which
upied two and half hours received with pro-
found attention from, the ead foam sdi
tory. MIR ADAMS present and heard every SYLLABLE.
presume that the Senate will Law the bill on the "a. !
bic, or postpone 1t till the next session.
The Senate, after receiving the Message from the |
House announcing the death Of of iis members Mr.
a. H. Reed, adjourned.
wAsHISGroS, Tuesday, June lith.
This has been quite an eventfu day in the history of
the government.
The President, this morning. sent Message to the |
House communicating to that body in consequence Of
the rejection OF the Treaty with Texas all the papers
accompanying that Treaty. including some which the
Senate had yet concealed under a veil of secrecy.
The President urges, with undimnished ardor, argu-
OF Texas TO the Union. He adheres TO, and confirms
his previous statement chat instructions have already
been given by the Texan Government propose TO the
Government of Great Britain, FORTHWITH, o the |
failure of the Treaty, to enter into Tre%s OF COM
nerce, and an alliance, offensive and defensive"
The proofs Of this must be looked for in the docu.
mens accompanying the message not hitherto publish
cd.
The President, in conclusion expresses his prefer
ence for annexation by Treaty but that he pre-
pared to give his assent any other mode of attaining
the object that Congress may adopt. The responsible
" of deciding this question he leaves with the House of
Representatives of the L. States.
After the reading of the message was concluded, Mr.
Hopkins moved that it be referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, and be printed
MIR Kennedy, of Md, moved that the message be
laid on the table, which was ost-Yeas &C. NAYS lI8.
The motion of MIR Hopkins then agreed to.
MIR Adams then offered resolutions. lst that
the power of declaring War belongs exclusively to
Congress and, 3D. that any attempt the part OF the
President 10 assume that power, whether with or with
out the assent Of the Senate, an invasion of the
rights of this House. and ought to be resisted to the
utmost Of its power.
The motion to suspend the rules to receive these
resolutions was lost-Yeas 20, Nays l08.
Licenses IN SPRSGFIELD, MAss.-For more