Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-08
From the n. o. Picayune.
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS

into the Senate of the United States BY
Mr.. McDunie and Col. Benton. As these
conflicting measures (or though they both
contemplate annexation, they are so dis.
similar as to be almost antagonisticaD viii
occupy large share OF the consideration
of Congress, we have thought that briet
exposition of the principles of the two
bills, and an explanation of the effect Of
each, would be acceptable to our readers.
Mr.. McDufiie's resolutions provided for
the annexation of Texas by proclamation,
as soon as the Congress of Texas shall a
gree to the terms of annexation contained
in the rejected treaty.
Col, Benton's bill authorizes and ndyi-
SEES the President to open negotiations
with Mexico and Texas for the adjust
menl of boundaries, and the annexation Of
the latter to the United States.
Here we have a most important discre-
pancy in the onset. One contemplates
annexation by joint resolution; the other
by treaty One provides for immediate
annexation by the action of the United
States and Texas alone; the other in
wolves Mexico in the negotiation, and, for
an uncertain length of time, gives that
power veto upon the scheme.
The next discrepancy relates to bounda-
ry. Mr.. McDuffie's resolutions provided
for the annexation of the Republic of Tex
as without any reference to boundary.
The amount of territory thus to be ac-
quired must be ascertained by the bounda-
ries of Texas as defined by herself-sub-
ject, of course, to any equitable right
Mexico may have on parts of the ceded
territory, Accordingly, the western boun-
dairy (he only one about which there is
any caviD of our acquisition under the
resolutions would be the Rio Grande, from
its mouth TO its source, and thence due
north to the ADD degree of north latitude.
Col. Bonton's bill proposes a desert
prairie west of the Neuces, and ridge of
mountains that separate the waters of the
Mississippi and Rio Grande, and a line
thence 10 latitude north ~ degrees as the
western boundary of Texas.
The tract of country lying between
these proposed lines is variously estimated
by different parties. At the Gull of Mexi-
CO the lines are not far apart, but they
are thought TO widen as they run north,
and the lands intervening are more valu-
able as they recede from the sea shore.
According TO the accounts of late travel
Iers, however, the difference between the
two lines is not SO great as has been sup.
posed; for the Mora river, tributary of
the Canadian, which empties into the Ar
kansas, and thus finds its way into the
Mississippi, heads within days ride OF
Santa Fe. So that, if all The waters of the
Mississippi be included in Col. Benton's
bill, the mountains that separate them
from those emptying into the Rio Grande
run within sight of Santa Tfe; and the
head waters of the Arkansas arc, in fact,
degree west of the spring-head of the
Rio Grande, itself The greatest depar-
ture in the proposed boundaries is at
point several degrees south of Santa Fe,
where the Puerco, theonly tributary of the
Rio Grande, of any moment, branches off
to the east, forming a tongue of land be.
tween it and the main river, six degrees
in length, north and south, and from one
TO three degrees east and west. From
our own knowledge of the country, and
the lights thrown upon the subject by re.
cent explorations. we incline to the opin-
ion that the desert west of the Neuces, |
spoken of IN Col. Benton's bill, will prove
a very unsatisfactory boundary, as it runs
but short distance before it terminates |
imam arabic and fertile country. From
this point of termination, for some hundred
miles, the mountains dividing the waters
of the Mississippi and Rio Grande, will be
as difficult to find as those that separate
the tributaries of the ST. Lawrence and
the St. Johns proved to be-which have
not been discovered yet, after sixty years
search. II would be necessary, in carry
ing out Col 3enton's bill, to run a direct
line from the end of the desert west of the
Neuces TO the spurs of the Rocky noun
.ains that cast their shadows upon the
town of Santa Fe. To include the waters
Of the Arkansas, the line would have to |
run within short distance of the Puerco, |
and parallel with and close to that stream
as far as Santa Fe, and straight on to Taos.
Indeed, we incline to think that after the
matter is thoroughly Investigated. it will
be found that the difference in point of
erritory to be acquired under the two pro-
Iects is not so grea, as TO produce serious
to the adoption of either, and
we have very little doubt that public opin.
on will settle upon the Rio Grande as the
most eligible and satisfactory boundary
The line might run from the mouth of lhe
Rio Grande to the Passo del Norle in laii.
Jude $50, and along the Sierra Bance, "a
range Of mountains between the Rio
GranJe and the Puerco) to within few
miles Of Santa Fe; but we must question
i any point between the Nueces and the
Rio Grande can be fixed upon from which