Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/581



extreme boundary thereof, so as to divide the same as nearly as possible into two equal pails; and in that portion of said territory lying south and west of the line to he run as aforesaid, there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

"And provided further, that this provision shall he considered as a compact between the people of the United States and the people of the said territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless by the consent of three-fourths of the states of the Union."

Mr. Hale asked for a suspension of the rules to enable him to offer it now, and have it printed and committed. Refused by a vote of yens 92, not twothirds; nays, 81. All the whigs and most of the democrats from the free states voted aye; all the members from slave states except three, and 17 democrats from free states, voted nay. On the 12th of January, Mr. Ingersoll, of Pa., from the committee on foreign affairs, reported a joint resolution for the annexation of Texas, which was discussed in committee of the whole, and on the 25th reported to the house in the following form; that portion relating to slavery having been added in committee, on motion of Milton Brown, of Tennessee:

"Resolved by the senate and house of representatives in congress assembled, That congress doth consent that the territory properly included within, and rightfully belonging to, the republic of Texas, may be erected into a new state, to be called the state of Texas, with a republican form of government, to be adopted by the people of said republic, by deputies in convention assembled, with the consent of the existing government, in order that the same may be admitted as one of the states of this Union.

"2. And be it further resolved, That the foregoing consent of congress is given upon the following conditions and with the following guaranties, to wit:

"First. Said state to be formed, subject to the adjustment by this government of all questions of boundary that may arise with other governments; and the constitution thereof, with the proper evidence of its adoption by the people of said republic of Texas, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, to be laid befere congress for its final action, on or before the 1st day of January, 1846.

"Second. Said state, when admitted into the Union, after ceding to the United States all public edifices, fortifications, barracks, ports, and harbors, navy and navy-yards, docks, magazines, arms, armaments, and all other property and means pertaining to the public defense, belonging to the said republic of Texas, shall retain all the public funds, debts, taxes, and dues of every kind which may belong to, or be due or owing said republic; and shall also retain all the vacant and unappropriated lands lying within its limits, to be applied to the payment of the debts and liabilities of said republic of Texas; and the residue of said lands, after discharging said debts and liabilities, to be disposed of as said state may direct; but in no event are said debts and liabilities to become a charge upon the United States.

"Third. New states of convenient size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to said state of Texas, and having sufficient population, may hereafter, by the consent of said state, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the federal constitution. And such states as may be formed out of that portion of said territory lying south of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, commonly known as the Missouri compromise line, shall be admitted into the Union, with or without slavery, as the people of each state asking admission may desire; and in such state or states as shall be formed out of said territory north of said Missouri compromise line, slavery or involuntary servitude (except for crime) shall be prohibited."