The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-06
MR.. BENToN's BILL.

annexing Texas, which he says is substantially
similar to his first, which was meant TO defeat
annexation. We also append his remarks:
A BILL to provide for the annexation Of Texas To
the United States:
BE IL enacted by the Serate and House Of Representa-
ipes Of the United States Of america IN Congress assem-
blsd, That State, to be formed out Of the present
republic of Texas with suitable extent and bounda-
res, aud 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 soon as the
terms and conditions of such admission, and the cess
sion of the remaining Texian territory to the United
States shall be agreed upon by the government OF
Texas and the United States.
Sec. 2. find be Il further enacted That the sum OF
one hundred thousand dollars DO, and the same Is
hereby appropriated TO defray the expenses OF mis-
sons and negotiations TO agree upon the terms Of said
admission and cesson, either by treaty. 10 be submit
ted to the Senate or by articles TO be submitted 10
two Houses Of Congress, as the President may direct
The bill having been read
MIR. BENTON said he would avail himself Of the in
diligence OF the Senate TO state the reasons which in
duced him TO offer II. IL was copy, he said, sub.
stantally Of the bill which he had previously offered
with the omission Of all the terms and conditions
which that bill contained. He had been induced to
omit all these conditions because of the difficulty Of
agreeing upon them, and because il now clear
that whatever bill was passed upon the subject Of
Texas the execution OF II must desolye upon the
President who had been just elected by the peo-
pie with view TO this object. He had confidence
in Mr. Polk, and willing to trust the question Of
terms and conditions to his untrammelled dieretioa
certain that he would do the best that he could for
the success Of the object the harmony of the Unios
and the peace and honor of the country. He had,
therefore, Withdrawn all the terms and conditions
which his previous bill contained, and only retained
its cardinal features namely the admission ofa Tex
ian State by law the cession Of the remaining Texian
territory 10 the United States and the diusment Of
the terms and conditions Of this admission and ces-
sion by ENJOYS, or commissioners, subject to tho
hrmaton OF the two governments. Ibis seemed to
him to be the natural, practicable way of proceeding
and was certainly the most respectful to Texas.
The joint resolution sent up from the House Of
Representatives was nothing but proposal and pro-
posal clogged with conditions, and limited as TO time
IL II passed both Houses of Congress, il might
be rejected by Texas and then the process of ma
king proposals would have TO commence again Lee
gslstve propositions, interchanged by two legislative
bodies, sitting in two different countries at the dis
lance of near two thousand miles apart, was a slow
way Of coming to concluslons and, unless more
practicable method was adopted, the annexation Of
Texas might be looked upon event deferred for
years Commissioners, or ENJOYS, to discuss PROPOSE.
tons face TO face, with right 10 give well as to
take-with power to yield well as to demand-can
alone be competent TO the successful termination of
such business. He therefore, adhered to that part
Il
| TO settle the terms Of annexation.
The occasion (sad MIR. b. is extraordinary one,
| and requires extraordinary mission. The yolun-
lary union of two independent nations is rare oc-
currence, and is worthy TO be attended by every cir.
cumstance which lends It dignity, promotes its sue.
cess, and makes il satisfactory. When England and
Scotland were united at the commencement of the
last century, no less than thrtyone commissioners
were empoyedlto agree upon the TERMS and the terms
they agreed upon received the sanction Of the Par
liaments of the two kingdoms, and completed union
which had been in vain attempted for one hundred
years Extraordinary MISSIONS nationally consttu.
ted, have seyeTaltmes been resorted to IN our own
country, and always with public APPRECIATION whe-
Their successful or not The first Mr.. Adams sent
Marshall Gerry, and Pinckney to the French direc-
tory In 1888: Mr.. Jefferson sent Ellsworth, Davie,
and Murray, TO the French consular government Of
1900: MIR. Madison sent Adams, Bayard, Gallatin
Clay, and Russell, 10 Client in 1914. All these mis-
slons, and others which might be named were ma
tionally consttued-composed of eminent citizens
taken from each political party, and from different
sections OF the Union and, OF course, all favorable
to the object for which they were employed. An
occasion has occurred which, in my opinion requires
mission similarly constituted-as numerous as the
missions to Paris to Ghent-and composed of cit,-
zens from both political parties and from the non
slavehoding well the slayeholding States Such
commission could hardly fail to be successful not
merely in agreeing upon the terms of the union but
agreeing upon terms which would be satisfactory to
the people and the governments of the two countries
And here, to avoid misrepresentation and the appear
ance of disrespect, where the contrary is felt [
would say that the gentleman in Texas as the
Charge of the United States is, in my opinion, emf
nently fit and proper to be of the envoys extra
ordinary and ministers plenipoentiary which nv bill
contemplates
The bill which now propose (said Mr. b. ) is brief
and PLAIN, but comprehensive and efectual. 1t pro-
poses to admit one Texan Sate-to obtain a cession
of the remaining Texian territory-and to settle the
terms and conditions of the admission and cesson by
the usual and practicable mode of neg citation
The admission of the State, or rather its right to
admission is to be complete under the bill Ii is to
be admitted by virtue of the act! so that no future
legislation will be necessary for that purpose and
the possibility OF Missouri controversy will be en-
tirey avoided The admitted State is to have all
the rights of the existing States from the moment of
her admission, not only theoretically, but practi-
caly; Tor the Dill fixes her representation in the
federal Congress- and avoids all delay or debate upon
that point. 1t says nothing about Senators. for
there the Constitution alone is sufficient: it b 9th
gives the right to senators, and fixes the number
10 representatives gives the right but leaves it to
Congress to fix the number This bill fixes it. and
gives to the first Texan State two members-a num-
Der to which her present population will enttle her
and which will be sensibly increased before the pro-
cess OF admission can be accomplished and doubled
or trebled before the new apporonment under the
census Of 1850 can be extended to her
| A State OF proper size beng formed the cession
of the remaining lexian territory to the United
States becomes Indispensable and here the Joint re-
solution from the House of Representatives Is essen
TALLY defective. 1t admits the whole republic of
Texas as one State and provides no means of re-
ducing her limits without her consent. Jp fact.
when once admitted as State, she never can be re-
duced without her consent: the constitution of the
United States forbids it and the equilibrium of our
system will not admit of such overpowerng prepon-
derance in any one member of the Union This is
not new point in our history it has occurred be-
fore, and has been decided The early history of
our coniederacy is full Of instruction upon it. Many
of the States, al the close of the revolution were
found to be too large for the safety of the rest and
the most Perseycring efforts were made to reduce
them. AS early as $780, they were called upon by
the conne nta Congress TO reduce their limits and