The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-17
QUESTION OF ANNEXATION
JOINT RESOLUTION FOLLOWED BY
 ExTENSIYE REPORT.

PrOVlueS lOr haWailan thuueXdolOh uy
 Open Legislation-Annexati of Texas
 is Argued as a Precedent.
 Washington, March 16.-The senate foreign relations committee, at it's meet ing this morning, practically abandon ed the hope of obtaining a ratification of the pending Hawaiian treaty, and reported to the open senate joint resolution providing for the annexation of the islands by means Of legislation in open session. The resolution is on lines somewhat similar to the resolu- tion introduced some time since by Sen- atcr Morgan.
 Senator Davis submitted with the joint resolution for annexation or Ha- waii an extended report of the com- mittee. The report states: "The joint resolution for the annexation of Hawaii to the United States brings that sub- ject within reach of legislative power of congress under the precedent that was established in the annexation of Texas. A treaty of annexation was ne- gotiated between Texas and the United States, which was signed by the agents Of the high contracting powers April 12 184i and was submitted to the sem ate of the United States by President Tyler with a recommendation that it be ratified. After mature consideration that treaty was rejected by the sen ate on June S. 1844, by a vote of six teen senators for ratification and thir- tv-five senators against ratification.
 "The people of Texas were so indig- nant at the rejection of this treaty that a pow erful party at once sprang into existence in favor of a treaty of alli- ance with Great Britain and Mexico was known to be ready to acknowledge and guarantee the independence if she would agree never to form a union with any other country. The people of the United States became greatly aroused at the prospect of losing Texas in consequence of the indignation of her people over the rejection of the treaty and they demanded immediate aEnexa ton. Afterwards and without any further action by the republic of Texas to signify its consent to annexa- ticn to the United States the joint reso- luton containing two alternate sec tions passed both branches of congress and was approved by the president on March 7, 1S45. The vote in the senate on the passage of this point resolution was ayes 23 nays 19. In the house of representatives the vote was ayes no, nays 9S. The report then gives the text of the resolution admitting Texas and continues:
 "Tn this act it was left to the discre- ton of the president to accept annexa- tion by treaty or by articles of agree ment with the government of Texas which were to be valid if made with the president of Texas under legislative authority. The government of Texas preferred the convention plan. Acting on the consent of Texas to come into the United States as state under the provisions of section 1 of the act of March ', 1S45, congress on December 29, 1S45, declared by joint resolution that Texas was one of the states of the American Union. This joint resolution clearly establishes the precedent that congress has the power to annex a for eign state to the territory of the United States either by assenting to treaty of annexation or by agreeing to articles of annexation or by act of congress based upon the consent of such foreign government obtained in an authentic way. No exercise of power could be more supreme than that under which Texas was annexed to the United States either as to it's scope or the man. l nf n1,t n1, If ditions upon which congress would
 merge the sovereignty of an indepen- dent republic into the supremacy of the | United States.
 1 This act also. establishes the fact 1 that treaty with a foreign state, which declares the consent of such state to be annexed to the United States although it is rejected by the
 senate of the United States is a suffi- cient expression and authorization of the consent of such foreign state to authorize congress to enact a law pro- viding for annexation which when com piled with is effectual without further 1 legislation to merge the sovereignty of
 such independent state into new and | different relation with the United | states. u SSldDIlSTleS the IdCC that congress in legislating upon the ques- | tion of annexation of a foreign state
 rightfully acts upon the consent of
 such state as the sovereign represen- tative of it's people. It further estab- fishes the fact that congress connot &C.,
 quire the right of jurisdiction to annex | foreign and independent state through
 vote of a majority of it's people, in
 opposition to the will of its constituted authorities. It Is the constitutional
 power of congress that operates to an nex foreign territory. Such proceed
 ing on the part of congress as the sub- mission of the question to a vote o1
 the people, such a state would only
 create disorder and revolution in for
 eign state applying through it's consti. ! tuted authorities for admission into the | United States.
 '"This important, clear and far-reach ing precedent, established in the an
 nexation of the republic of Texas, is {
 sufficient guide for the action of con
 gress in the subject of the joint reso ] lution herewith presented. If such {
 measure is supported by a safe ant wise policy is it a national duty WI i owe to the people of Hawaii to anne1 1 them"
 The report then discusses at lengti 1 the arguments in favor of annexation l declaring that fthn DoIicv of anneya