The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-12-25

tIonal lnltellIgencer says on thls SUBJECT
1.-THE reckless haste of this proceeding
is sufficiently showed by the fact of its hav-
ing been attended with no deliberation, but
brought to an instantaneous issue in the
committee without waiting even to be fur
nished with the documents lin printed
form) communicated to Congress by the
President of the United States on this
subject
If anything is to be done at this session
of Congress In regard to Texas let it, we
entreat be in form at least not to shock
the sensibilities Of such of our country
men as yet entertain some respect for the
good old Constitution of the United States
some regard for the character Of pro-
bity and fairness in all our dealing as a
nation, which has come down to US from
the days of Washington and what still
cherish that moral sense, deep seated in
the hearts of the American people, with
out the general prevalence of which nei-
ther Constitutions, Laws nor History, are
worth the parchment and paper or which
they are enrolled.
Deprecating any extension of the terri
tory of the United States beyond its pre-
sent limits as an evil, in itself, of great
magnitude protesting against it, under
any circumstances, for the sake of the in
terests of the States of this Union. both
old and new, which are in our opinion
deeply involved in it yet, if in any form
there should bea determination in Con
gress to act in reference to Texas, it can
not be doubted that, as . lesser evil, the
bill of Mr.. Benton is greatly to be prefer
red to any other shape which a PROPOSE.
ton on this subject is likely to assme"
To enable our readers to form their
own opinion on the question, we give Mr.
Benton's bill at length, which follows -
I Phil ". Amer.
A bill to provide for the Annexation of
Teras to the United States.
Be it enacted, &c, That the President
of the United States be and and he hereby
is authorized and advised to open negota-
tons with Mexico and Texas for the ad-
justmept Of boundaries, and the annexa-
ton of the latter to the United States, on
the following bases to wit;
l. The boundary of the territory an
nexed to be in the desert prairie west of
the Nueces, and along the highlands and
mountain heights which devide the waters
of the Mississippi from the waters Of the
Rio del Norte, and TO latitude forty-two
degrees north.
Ii. The people Of Texas, bya legisla-
tive act, or by any authentic act which
shows the will of the majority, to express
their assent to said annexation.
Ill. A State to be called "the State
of Texas" with boundaries fixed by her.
self, and an extent not exceeding that OF
the largest State in the Union, be admit
ted into the Union, by virtue of this act
on an equal footing with the original
States.
". The remainder Of the annexed
territory TO be held and disposed cfby the
United States as one of their territories,
and to be called I" the Southwest Terri
tory"
V. The existence of slavery to be pro-
hibited in the northern and northwestern
part of said territory, west of the Tooth
degree of longitude west from Greenwich,
so as to divide as equally as may be the
whole Of the annexed country between
slaveholding and non-slaveholding States.
w. The assent OF Mexico to be OBJ
tanned by treaty to such annexation and
boundary or to be dispensed with when
the Congress of the United States may
deem such assent to be necessary.
VII. Other details Of the annexation
to be adjusted by treaty,as far as the same
may come within the scope ofthe treaty
making power.