Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/582

 Cave Johnson, of Tenn., moved the previous question, which the house seconded yeas, 113; nays, 106 — and then the amendment was agreed to; yeas, 118; nays, 101. The yeas comprised 114 democrats and 4 southern whigs; the nays, all the whigs present but the four just mentioned, and 23 democrats from free states. The house then ordered the whole proposition to a third reading forthwith; and passed it by yeas 120 to 98 nays. Sent to the senate for concurrence, where, on the 24th February, it was taken up for consideration. Mr. Walker, of Wis., moved to add an alternative proposition contemplating negotiation as the means of effecting the meditated end. Several amendments were moved and rejected. Walker's was carried by a vote of 27 to 25. The resolution, as amended, was adopted; yeas, 26, all democrats but three; nays, 25, all whigs. The senate amendment was agreed to by the house, and the annexation of Texas decreed. The resolutions were the next day, March 2, approved by the President. Mr. Tyler seized upon the last moment of his official existence to exercise the power conferred by the resolutions. Almonte, the Mexican minister, protested against the act, and asked for his passports.

The following is the joint resolution for the annexation of Texas:

"Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the United States in congress assembled, That congress doth consent that the territory properly included within, and rightfully. belonging to, the republic of Texas, maybe 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 rseolved, 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 before congress for its final action, on or before the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six.

"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 or 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.