Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-06-06

I
public OF Texas to the United States be-
Jog taken up for consideration, Mr. BEN
TON expressed desire to discuss the
question upon the resolutions which he
had submitted in relation thereto on the
18th instant; whereupon the considera.
ton OF the treaty was postponed for that
purpose. The resolutions were then read,
as follows
"Resolred. That the ratification OF the
treaty for the annexation of Texas to the
United States would be an adoption ofthe
Texan war with Mexico by the United
States, and would devolve its conduct and
conclusion upon the said United States.
"ResolUed, That the treaty. making pow.
er does not extend to the power Of making
war, and that the President and Senate
have no right to make war, either by dec.
laratlon or adoption.
"Resolved, The country dismembered
from the Z. States by the treaty Of 1919
with Spain, comprehending Texas and a
large territory between the Red river and
Arkansas, and being geographically ap-
purtenant to the United States, and essen.
tial TO their political, commercial, and so.
cial system, ought to be reunited to the
American Union es soon as it can be done
with the consent o. a majority of the peo-
pie OF the United States and Of Texas, and
when Mexico shall either consent to the
same, or acknowledge the Independence
Of Texas, or cease to prosecute the war
against her the armlstice having expired
on scale commensurate to the conquest
ofthe country"
MIR. BENTON said he considered the dis
cussion of the resolutions as the most ap.
propriate mode of discussing the treaty.
The two frs, would be decisive OF its fate,
il adopted, and would shew the reason for
its rejection: the third one would shew
the grounds on which the old and uni
form friends to the recovery of Texas, and
the rest of the dismembered territory,
would act in getting back that large and
fair portion of Louisidna, SO wantonly
thrown away by the inexplcable treaty
of 1919.
Preliminary to the right discussion OF
the treaty in an inquiry into the treaty it.
self.-an inquiry into its contenis-in Or
der to see what the treaty is-what it
cedes to the U. States-and what it is we
are called upon TO re.annex to the Ameri-
can Union. There may be something in
this worth knowing by those who wish to
know what they do before they act.
In poor letter which lately publish.
ed on the subjcc. oil Texas, and in answer
to letter from the members Of the Tex
an Congress, copy of which was pub
lished without my knowledge, while the
original has not yet come to hand; in this
poor letter, took occasion to discrimi.
nate between the old province OF Texas,
and the new Republic Of Texas, and to
show that latter includes what never was
any part of Texas, but part Of the pres.
ent department and former province of
New Mexico, and parts of other depart
ments of the Mexican Republic. To dis.
crminate between these two Texases,
and to show to my fellow citizens that
took the trouble to look at the Texas ques.
ton before decided it, and subjected my
mind to the process OF considering what
was about before spoke, wrote as fol.
lows:
with respect to Texas, her destiny is
fixed. OF course, | who consider what
am about, always speak OF Texas as con.
stituted at the time of the treaty Of 1919,
and not as constituted by the Republic of
Texas, comprehending the capitol. and
forty towns and villages OF New Mexico;
now and always as fully under the do.
mnion of the Republic of Mexico, as
Quebec and all the towns and villages Of
Canada are under the dominion of Great
Britain! 1t is Of this Texas-The old
Spanish Texas-of which always speak;
and Of her, say, her destiny is fixed.-
Whatever may be the fate of the present
movement, her destination is return 10
her natural positon-that ola part of the
American Union"
adhere to this discrimination between
the two Texases, and now propose to Sc
which OF the two we are asked by the
President of the q. States to incorporate
into the American Union. wish to see
which we take: and for that purpose look,
first, at the article Of the treaty which pro-
vijes for the incorporation. That article,
being the first one Of the treaty, is in these
worGs:
"The republic of Texas, acting in con.
lormity with the wishes OF the people and
every department OF its government, cedes
to the United States all its territories, TO be
held by them in full property and sover.
eighty, and TO be annexed to the said
United States as one Of their Territories,
subject TO the same constitutional provis-
ions with their other Territories. This
cession includes ALL public lots and
squares, vacant lands, mines minerals,
salt lakes and springs, public edifces, for
tifcatlons, barracks. ports and harbors,
navy and navy yards, docks, magazines,
arms, ornaments, and accoutremenis, ar
chives and public documents, public funds.
debts, taxes and dues unpaid at the time
of The exchange of the ratification of this
treaty."
This article shows, Mr.. President,
what it is that is coded TO US by this trea-
~, and what il is that we are called upon
to incorporate into the American Union.
1t is the Republic ofTexas! and that with
out stint or limit! the whole Republic,
with all its territories, all its domain, all It's
contents of every kind. ALLthIs is pro-
posed to be incorporated into the United