Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-02-22

The bill was accordingly taken up, when
Mr.. Benton on leave, withdrew it, and sub
mittcd the following in lieu thereof, viz:
A BILL to provide for the annexation Of
Texas to the United States.
BE IL enacted by the Senate and House Of Rep.
resentatiUes of the United States Of America in
Con gresS assembled, That a State, to be formed
ont OF the present Republic OF Texas with suit
able extent and boundaries, and with two repre-
sentaves in Congress until the next apporton.
ment OF representation, shall be admitted into
the Union by virtue OF this act, on an equal
footing with the existing States, as soon as the
terms and conditions OF such admission, and the
cession OF the remaining Texan Territory to the
United States shall be agreed upon by the Gov.
eminent of Texas and the United States.
SEC. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That the
sum OF one hundred thousand dollars be, and the
same is hereby, appropriated to delray the ex.
penses OF missions and negotiations 10 agree
upon the terms Of said admission and cession,
either by treaty, to be submitted to the Senate,
or by articles 10 be submitted TO the two Houses
of Congress, as the President may direct
Mr.. Benton made some remarks on the
subject of the amendment to his bill-was
opposed to the joint resolutions of the
IIouse-thought his plan the only possible
one,-wished it to be laid on the table and
printed A discussion arose on the dispo-
siton Of the bill-some being in favor of
referring it to the committee on Foreign
Relations, while Others were in favor OF
laying it on the table and having it printed.
The question of reference was negatived---
yeas %, nays %, and the bill ordered to
lie on the table and be printed.
We give a couple of extracts from Mr..
Benton's speech, one explaining the reason
for introducing the bill, and the other G w.
ing his opinion upon the joint resolution
of the House, as follows:
Mr. Benton said he would avail himself Of
the indulgence OF the Senate to state the reasons
which induced him to offer it. 1t was q copy.
he said, substantially, 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 10 omit all these conditions
because Of the difficulty OF agreeing upon them.
and because il was now clear that whatever bill
was passed upon The subject of Texas, the exc
cution Of it must devolve upon the new Presi-
dent, who had been ust elected by the people
with view TO this object He had confidence
in Mr.. Polk, and was willing to trust the quess
| ton Of terms and conditions TO his untrameled
discretion, certain that he would do the best that
he could for the success of the object, the har.
mony Of the Union, 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 Of Texan State by
law, the cesson OF the remaining Texian terri.
tory to the United States, and the adi usment
Of the terms and conditions Of this admission
and cession by ENJOYS, or commissioners, sub
ect to the confirmation OF the two governments.
This seemed TO him to be the natural, practical
BILE 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 proposal clogged with conditions, and lin.
tied as to time If it passed both Houses OF our
Congress, it might be rel ected by Texas; and
then the process Of making proposals would
have 10 commence again. Legislative PROPOSE.
tons, interchanged by two legislative bodies,
sitting in two different countries, at the distance
Of near two thousand miles apart was a slow
way Of coming to conclusions; and, unless some
more practicable method was adopted, the annex.
alton OF Texas might be looked upon as an
event deferred for years. Commissioners, or
ENJOYS, to discuss propositions face to face, with
a right to give as well as 10 take-with power TO
yield as well as to demand-can alone be com.
petent to the successful termination OF such
business. He therefore adhered to that part of
his former bill which proposed to send ministers
TO settle the terms Of annexation.
The boosted instructions of the Legisla-
ture have had but little effect on Senator
Benton.