Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-06-13
rre'poadsse cttse Baltimore .s,atliean,
Washington. June. Io5 ls44.
THE. TEXAs QUESTION.

49, 1-AsA1
The Senate Chamber was greatly crowded
this morning 10 hear the proylsions'bf MIR Ben.
TOM Bill which had not before been commu-
nicaled, providing for the annexation Of Texas
The Bill is in the following terms:
"Be il enacted that the President of the T.
nied States be and he hereby is authorized ana
advised 10 open negotiations with Mexico and
Texas for the adjustment Of boundaries and the
annexation OF the latter 10 the United States on
The follow ing basis, 10 wit:
1. The Boundary OF the annexed territory 10
be in The desert prairie ofthe Neuces, and along
fhe highlands and mountain heights which d..
vide the waters Of the Mississippi from the wa
ters OF the Rio del Norie aud 10 latitude AZ de-
grees North.
H. The People Of Texas by legislative act
sor by any authentic act which shows the will of
the majority, to express their assent 10 said an
nexation. m T
III A State 10 be called "the state Of Texas, =
with boundaFies Fixed BY herself and an extent
! not exceeding that Of the largest State ID The
Onion, TO be admitted into the Union by yir-
tue of this act on al equal footing with the o.
rigiusl States i
~ The remainder of the snnexed territory
10 be held and disposed Of by the United States
as one of the territories, and 10 be called
"ihe South Western Territory I"
v The existence Of slavery to be forever
prohibited in the northern and north western
part Of sa ID territory, so as 10 divide as equal
y as may be the whole of the annexed coun-
try between Slaveh gliding and non SlaSeholding
States
/ VI. The assent Of Nexieo to be obtained by
treaty to such annex alton and boundary and 10
be dispensed with " hen the Congress OF the
United States may deem such assehtlto be un-
necessary
VII. Other details Of the annex tipu TO be
adjusted BY treaty, so far as the same may
come within the scope OF the treaty max ing
power"
The reading of the Bill as well assthe speech
of Mr.. Benton created much feeling p the Sen
ate. All listened To il. and some EpQrtions of
the speech Of MIR. B particularly thai alluding
to the new burn zeal Of the new friends OF Tex
as, or nsepiyle friends Mr.. Benton called them,
seemed 10 disturb the equanimIIy pf Mr., Nc
Dufier Mr.. b. pr owed that be had been
longer and better friend Of Texas than all OF
them together.
! | send you below copy Of Mr.. McDufie's
Joint Rssu hitian nlgoduced into Executive sas-
sion, MAY BAD, aud ordesed TO be printed, May
"a, The injunction Of secrecy was removed
from il on Saturday night
Resolved, sfhat the compact Of annexation
made between The Executive Government of the
United States and thar of Texas and submitted
10 the Senate for confirmation by the President
Of Inc Uoiled States be, and he same is hereby
rslified as the fundamental law Of union between
The United States and Texas, sstso.In as The SUI
preme executive and legislative power of Texas
shall rally and confirm The said compact of an
nexalion =
This Resolution is now before the .Senale in
puhlc session. and upon the question shall it be
read second time.