Mobile register and journal. [volume] (Mobile, Ala.) 1841-1849, 1845-10-25

coasummated befure its retirement from ofice. The
power Of Congress annex BY joint resolution had
received some attention during the recess, and had
gained somewhat ia the public mind. The exigen-
cies of The required statesmen give the ques-
lion "a thorough inyesIigaton-and ii became those
Of the SOUTH TO he careful, aud make false step.
Wo TO ce South If, in the pursuit of some cherish
ed object, she be forgetful of her principles, and
trample upon the constitution! Whose arm shall
shield that sacred instrument if she be recreanI7
large majority Of the friends Of annexation in
Congress, altera careful investigation Of the sub
jeci, became satisfied of the power of Congress
to annex Texas by joint resolution. without the in
Ierventon of preliminary treaty: but on the minds
of many there were still strong doubts
We come now to the part taken by Senator Bagby
| in the consummation of iris measure. During the
session of Congress before the last, his biiterest
vilers cannot find single act to vent their spite
upon Whenever aud howsoeyer The question pre-
scented itself, his vote always given in favor %
annexation. He voted for The Trcaty-he voted for
McDuffe's resolalons--and he voted Tor The resou-
lions Of MIR. Benton. As they cannot attack his
votes, they have kindly cpniescended 10 inform the
public as TO the secret operations Of the Senator's
mind and the exact measure Of solilon exercised in
casting his votes We are told that he voted for the
Tyler Treaty ioith reluctance!
At the last session Of Congress, resolutions Of
nexalion without number we're offered in the House
of Representatives and in the Senate. II were a
useless labor To discuss their merits here. Amongst
others, Milton Prown, Wing member from Ten.
nessee ia the House of Representatives, and Mr..
Foster, "a Wing from The same State in the Senate.
offered simultaneously the set Of resolutions.
After long discussion upon all the projects before
the House. Mr.. Browns resolutions for a time al
most lost sight Of obtained The most favor and were
finally adopted and sent TO the Senate for concur
renee. They were referred to the committee on TO-
reign relations, together with the various Senate
resolutions, state Instructions, memorials, SC. upon
The same subject. That committee reported adj
yerseiy the power Of Congress the subject,
concluding w,ih The following resolution:
,.Resoiped, That the joint resolution from the
House Of Representatives for the annexation of Tex
as to the United States be rejected =
The next day Mr.. Benton offered "a bill TO pro.
vide for the annexation of Texas to The United
States" The bill was as lolIows
"Be it enacted, &c, That n State to be formed ou
of the present Republic Of Texas, with suitable ex.
tent and boundaries, and with Two Representative
in Congress. until tn next superintendent of rep
reservations shall I've r;'ted into the UnIou al
equal tooiIng with casting StaIes, as soon Nj
the terms and the cesson Of the remaining ierrIIor,
Of Texas To the United States shall be agreed upon
, by The Government oi the uhiie, States
"2nd, That The Of s i00, 00O be, aud the same
s hereby, appropriated io defray The expenses %
missions and Negotiations TO agree upon the terms
n said admission aud csssiou, either by Treaty 10 he
submitted to The Senate, by articles 10 be submit
led 10 the two Houses OF Congress as the Presden
! may demand"
Mr. Benton introduced his bill with an able speecl
in its support. from which we make The following
extract, rs embracing some Of the objections uge,
against the House resolutions:
The bill which now propose (said Mr. B !.
brief and plain, hut comprehensive and elfectml. L
d proposes 10 admit one Texan Siaie--to obtain
o cesson Of the remaining Texan territory--and Il
settle the terms and conditions Of the adm,s an'
cession by the usual and practicable mode Of nego
tiation.
The admission of the State. or rather its right Il
h admission, is to be complete under the bill. IL is tt
be admitted by virtue OF the act that no future
legislation will be necessary for that purpose. an'
the possibility of Missouri controversy will b'
entirely avoided. The admitted State is to have al
the rights of the existing States from the moment o
her admission, not only Theoretically. but prach
federal Congress, and avoids all delay debate up
{ on that point II says nothing about senators, fol
4 there the constitution alone is sufficient: " bott
gives the right to senator's, and hxes the number
To representatives it gives the right. bui leaves Il
Congress 10 fix the number. This bill likes il, ant
i gives to the first TEXAN State two members;
number to which her present population will eniit'
| her, and which will be sensbly increased betois
n the process of admission he accomplished, ant
Q doubled treblcd before tie new apportionmen
IF ha cd har
/. A State ofproper size being formed, the cessioI
of the remain Texan territory TO the Untet
: States becomes Indispensable; and here The join
e resolution from the House Of Representatives il
essentially defective. 1t admits the whole republic
j. of Texas State, and provides no mean
of reducing her limits without her consent In fact
70 when once admitted State, she never can b.
~ reduced without her cousent the constitution OF the
United States forbds it; and the equilibrium OF ou
system will not admit Of such overpowerirg pre-
u ponderance in any one member oflhe Union. Thu
o IL not n new point in our history il has occuret
IS before and has been decided The early history o
our coaiederacy is full Of instruction upon il Man.
of the States, at the close Of the revolution, were
found be too large for the safety OF The rest ant
IL the most perseyerng efforts made to reduce
. them. As early IA 1850, they were called upon b,
the continental Congress- reduce their limits,
% cede their surplus territory. Some yielded readl,
" from feeling Of harmony and feel
ngs being rather stronger then. than they are now
Virginia coded grnuitously all her territory beyond
10 the Ohio river. Connecticut did not cede for TWEEN
l. " years, and then got and half millions for
her small claim ne shore OF Lake Eiie. Georgia
held out until 1862, and then got a million and
quarter in money, five millions ofacres OF land scrip
and obligation TO extinguish Indian titles and re-
m move indians, which has cost tens OF millions
/. for the territory alone which lorna the singh
State Of Mississippi. I, required the most perse
yerins exertions AS we all know aidedby The kind
5 " spirit which then prevailed, and the overpower
ing necessity to provide for The revolutionary debt
10 obtain from the great States the contraction o
their limits and the cesson Of their surplus territor,
n TO The Union Our ancestors accomplished the work
aud they took care, they fully believed TO guar
against the like danger in all time to come. Thel
took care once, aud in The very acts Of cession
o | 10 fix The number and extent Of the States
!, making them Of proper number and SIZE, so tina
the danger ofovershaddowing States, TO predominant
in the House OF Representatives, or Of small ones
Q to rule in The Senate. was equally avoided. 'th
. was WISE il necessary precaution against Ia
. tlre dangers aud difficulties. A nd shall such an ex
| ample lie lost upon as! Shall we voluntarily throw
oul selves back inio condition far worse than thu
n from which fathers, with much care, WISDOM
. patriotism, aud even money, succeeded ~ eStrcai
ing Ms? Texas rs far larger than the Northwestern
Territory; yet ancestors would not risk ih'
= danger of single State there. even OF multi
. tude Of small ones they wisely, fixed the numte
of the whole, and the extent Of each, SO as to avoit
the danger OF both extremes al
: Gentlemen suppose that Texas will voluntariI,
: reduce herself: il is supposition contrary TO al
human experiences. But suppose she does; VIVA
. thena Consequences Immediately result which il il
im,E .ble g .s"cruuter BY the JOINT resolution
Texas is to keep her lands, and pay her own debts
These Ia IDS wo Id lie without The limits Of the