The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-01-09
TEXAS-MR. TIBBATTS' BILL AND
RESOLUTIONS.


The following is copy of the bill and also
the joint resolution for the annexation of Texas
to the United States, introduced in the House
Of Representatives on the Sd inst, by Mr.. TIB-
BATS, of Kentucky, and referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union,
viz:
Whereas, by the third article of the treaty between
these United States and France for the purchase of
louisiana concluded at Paris in the year Of our Lord
thousand eight hundred and three, is stipulated
and declared that "the inhabitants of the ceded ter
rtory shall be incorporated in the United States and
admitted, possible, according to the prlnc
pies of the federal constitution, to the enjoyment Of
all the rights advantages and immunites Of citizens
of the United States and, in the meantime they
shall be maintained and protected in the free enjoy
meot Of their liberty, property, and the religion
which they profess" And whereas the then territory
of Texas part of the said territory of LOUISE
ana, csded by France to the United States by the
treaty aforesaid And whereas the said territory of
| Texas ceded by the United States to Spain by
the treaty of Florida of the 22d February 1919: And
whereas the citizens Of said territory have declared
indicated and established their indie pendence as a
nation, and erected for themselves and independent
republic and, as it is represented are deslrous of
having said territory reannexed to these UntedSates
and the citizens Of said republic restored to the rights
|
third article Of the said treaty OF Louisiana: And
whereas faithful adherence to the stpulatIons Of
treaties is the glory of nation, and should be pre-
served inviolate; and good faith to France and Jus
ce to the citizens Of Texas require that it shall be
\ done:
Be il enacted, Sc That the citizens of the entire
Territory of The said republic of Texas within ths
| limits of Louisiana, as originally purchased by the
United States of France, or otherwise acquired be-
and they are hereby authorized to form for them.
selves constitution and State government, which
shall be republican and not inconsistent with the con-
stituton of the United States, and to assume such
name they shall deem proper, and the said State
when formed, shall be admitted INTO the Union upor
an equal footing with the original States in every re
spect whatsoever; and the said constitution may be
formed by the citizens of Texas by legislative act
| or any other authentic act which shall show the viii
Of the ajority to express their assent to the same
Sec. 2. BE hturter, Sc, That in all that portion
Of the territory which lies north Of thlry-sx deprees
aud thirty minutes north latitude, slavery and vol
uniary servtude Otherwise than in the punishmen
of crimes whereof the parties shall have been dul,
conviced) shall be, and is hereby forever prohibited
provided that any person escaping into the same
from whom labor service is lawfully claimed il
any State or Territory of the United States, such fl
gluve may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to tn.
person claiming his her labor service aforesaid
Sec. 3. BE further &C., That in case CoDstitu.
ton and State Government shall be formed for tn,
forming the same, or the representatives therein al
soon thereafter may be, shall cause a true and al,
tested copy Of such constitution, or frame of Stat
Government, as shall be formed or provided, to b,
| Transmitted 10 Congress.
Sec. 4. Be Il further, &C., That until the next yen
era census be taken, the said State shall be enttec
to representative in the House of Representative
Of the United States.
Sec 5. Be IL further, dc, That all persons VIII,
shall lie citizens of The Republic of Texas according
to the Constitution and laws of that Republic at th,
time OF the adoption of their State Constitution sbal
be- and they hereby declared to be citizens of th,
Unied States; and ali persons who, by SAID Consti
tuition and laws would have become citizens of said
Republic on arriving at the age of twenty one wears
shall be, and they hereby declsredo be citizens
Of the United States upon their arriving such age
respectively.
Sec. &. BE IL further, Sc, That the following pro
positions be- aud they hereby, offered to the LIE
gslature other authority which shall be designate,
on the part of the citizens of Texas to form suct
State Constitution for their free acceptance or reec
ton; which, if accepted, shall be obligatory upon tn,
Uoited States.
First The said state shall cede to the United State,
all that part Of the territory belonging to sale
republic outside Of boundary to be fixed by the le
gslsture or other authority which shall be desiRDs
ted on the part Of the citizens Of Texas TO form he
State constitution, which shall include an extent moi
exceeding the largest State in the Union all tbs
public lands and public property thereof Of every de
scrip,ion whatever, including all public lots and
squares, vacant lands Mines minerals salt lakes and
prings, public sdhces, Qualifications barracks port,
and bsrbors, navy and navy yards docks maya zines
] arms aruaments, and ,accoutrements archives and
public documents, public funds ebs taxes, and due,
unpaid IN such territory, which shall be called the
soo,hwes, Territory, the inhabitants of which shall
be rs-ipcorporated in the United State, u,on m.
.sm. principles and guarantees as we're stipulated and
declared by the ,sid third article Of IN. said treaty
Nth Frapcs. concluded At Pars In The xa.r 81 49,.