Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/580

 your sagacity, prudence, and zeal. Your mission is one of the first magnitude at all times, but especially now; and he feels assured that nothing will be left undone on your part to do justice to the country and the government in reference to this measure.

"I have said nothing as to our right of treaty with Texas, without consulting Mexico. You so fully understand the grounds on which we rest our right, and are so familiar with all the facts necessary to maintain them, that it was thought unnecessary to add anything in reference to it.

The presidential contest of 1844 resulted in the election of Jas. K. Polk. The second session of the 28th congress commenced Dec. 2d, to terminate with the close of Mr. Tyler's presidential term. On the 19th of December, Mr. John B. Weller, of Ohio, introduced a joint resolution providing for the annexation of Texas to the United States, which he moved to the committee of the whole. Mr. Hamlin, of Ohio, moved its reference to a committee of one from each state, with instructions to report to the house,

"1st. Whether congress has any constitutional power to annex a foreign, independent nation to this government; and if so, by what article and section of the constitution it is conferred; whether it is among the powers expressly granted, or among those which are implied; whether it is necessary to carry into effect any expressly-granted power; and if so, which one.

"2d. Whether annexation of Texas would not extend and perpetuate slavery in the slave states, and also the internal slave-trade; and whether the United States government has any constitutional power over slavery in the states, either to perpetuate it there, or to do it away.

"3d. Whether the United States, having acknowledged the independence of Texas, Mexico is thereby deprived of her right to reconquer that province.

"4th. That they report whether Texas is owing any debts or not; and if she is, what is the amount, and to whom payable; and whether, if she should be annexed to the United States, the United States government would be bound to pay them all.

"5th. That they report what treaties are in existence between Texas and foreign governments; and, if she should be annexed to the United States, whether the United States government would be bound, by the law of nations, to fulfill those treaties."

The question was first taken on Mr. Weller's motion, and carried. Yeas, 109, democrats; nays, 61, whigs; whereupon it was held that Hamlin's amendment was defeated, and the original proposition alone committed.

On the 10th of January, 1845, John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, proposed the following as an amendment to any act or resolve contemplating the annexation of Texas to the Union: t

"Provided, that immediately after the question of boundary between the United States of America and Mexico shall have been definitively settled by the two governments and before any state formed out of the territory of Texas shall be admitted into the Union, the said territory of Texas shall be divided as follows, to wit: beginning at a point on the Gulf of Mexico, midway between the northern and southern boundaries ?? reof on the coast; and thence by a line running in a northwesterly direction to the