The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-17
HOUSE DEBATES ANNEXATION.
Hawaiian Question Brought in Connection
with Post Office Bill.


Washington, March l6.-The Senate
committee on foreign relations today
agreed to recommend that the Hawaiian
Islands be annexed by legislation in open
session and agreed upon joint resolution
for the accomplishment of this purpose,
which Senator Davis was authorized to
report to the Senate.
Later. in the Senate, Chairman Davis
reported joint resolution providing for
the annexation of the Hawaiian islands.
The following is the text of the joint
resolution for the annexation Of Hawaii,
agreed upon today by the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations and afterwards
reported to the Senate by Senator Davis.
Section 1.-The government OF the he
public of Hawaii having In due form
sienified its consent in the manner pro-
yided by it's constitution to cede absolute
ly and without reserve to the United
States of America all rights of sovereignty
of whatever kind in and to the Hawaiian
islands and to their dependencies and also
to cede and transfer to the United States
the absolute fee and ownership OF all pub.
lie government or crown danos, puplic
buildings or editces, fortified harbors,
military equipment and all public
property of whatever kind and description
belonging to the government OF the
Hawaiian islands together with every
right and appurtenanoe thereunto apper-
tanning, therefore, be it
Resolved, That said cession is accepted,
ratified and confirmed and that the SAID
Hawaiian islands and their dependencies
be and they are hereby annexed as part
of the territory of the United States and
are subject TO the sovereign dominion
thereof and that all and singular, the
property and rights herein before men
toned are vested in the United States OF
America.
Senator Davis submitted with the joint
resolution an extended report OF the COM
mittee The report said:
HThe Joint resolution for the anneXa-
tion of Hawaii to the United States here
with reported to the Senate by the COM
,nittee on foreign affairs brings that sub
1ect within reach of the legislative power
of Congress under the precedent that was
established in the annexation OF Iexas;
A treaty of annexation was negotiated
between Texas, as au independent state
and the United States which was signed
by the agents of the high contracting
powers April 49, 1884, and was submitted
to the Senate of the United States by
President Tyler with recommendation
that it be ratified.
oAIO
treaty was rejected by the Senate on June
8, 1874, by a vote of sixteen Senators for
ratification and thirJy-liye members
against ratification.
isThe people of Texas were SO indignant
at the rejection of this treaty that party
at once sprang into existence in favor OF
q treaty, of alliance with Great Britain
and Mexico was known 10 pe reauy "
acknowledge and guarantee the independ-
ence of Texas if she would agree never to,
form union with any other country. ~
nlhe peopIe of the United States be-
came aroused at the prospect of losing
Texas in consequence OF the indignation
of her people over the rejection OF the
treaty, and they demanded the immaculate
annexati0n by a law that would speak the
will of the majority in Congress After
wards and without any further action by
the representatives of Texas to signify its
consent to annexation to the united
States. the Joint resolution, containing
two alternate sections, passed both
branches of Congress and was approved
by the President on March Z, le4o. Ihe
Joint resolution was ayes %, nays 1s. In
tha House of Representatives the vote was
ayes, 100; nays. eo.
of the resolution admitting Texas and
continues.
Gin this act it was left to the discretion
treaty or by articles Of agreement with
the government of Texas, which were to
be valid If made with the President OF
Texas under legislative authority or by
the act OF a convention chosen hy the the
people of Texas under like authority. Inc
government of Texas preferred tue con
yention plan and convention WAS eaileu.
Tho governor submitted to the people the
question of anr exation and it was voted,
but the aot of the legislature calling Tor
the convention made no such PROVISION.