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The Annexation of Texas
Topic Started: Apr 28 2010, 01:58 PM (404 Views)
United States of America
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An Empire for Liberty

March 12, 1844

A treaty of annexation between the United States and the Republic of Texas was signed in Washington today by Secretary of State John C. Calhoun and Texas representatives Isaac Van Zandt and J. Pinckney Henderson.

The treaty's terms stipulate that Texas will be admitted into the Union as a Federal territory in exchange for U.S. assumption of Texas' public debts and liabilities. All citizens of Texas will become American citizens, and the institution of slavery will not be interfered with in the new territory. Additionally, an informal guarantee of Texan security has been given by Secretary Calhoun against further Mexican attacks.

The treaty will now go to the U.S. Senate for ratification.
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"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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Republic of Texas
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We confirm the signing of this treaty and look forward to union with the American Republic.

Isaac Van Zandt
"Y'all can go to Hell, and I'll go to Texas."
- Davy Crockett
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An Empire for Liberty

June 8, 1844

The introduction of the Texas treaty of annexation two months ago sparked a bitter debate in Congress, as the Senate wrangled over whether to admit that republic as the newest state of the Union.

Along with the treaty, Secretary of State John Calhoun dispatched a statement to the Senate -- a copy of a letter he'd previously sent to the British ambassador outlining America's reasons for annexing Texas, chief among them to protect slavery from British interference. Antislavery Senator Benjamin Tappan of Ohio then leaked the treaty's provisions, which were supposed to be confidential, to several Northern newspapers. The explicitly pro-slavery agenda proved too hot for most Washington politicians to handle in an election year, and the treaty failed to muster the two-thirds majority required in its final vote today.

The failure of the Texas annexation bill will undoubtedly have dire repercussions for President Tyler's reelection bid, which is based on the slogan "Tyler and Texas!" and has little else for a platform. There is some speculation that Calhoun forced the pro-slavery line as a way of derailing the candidacies of both Tyler and Martin Van Buren, in order to ensure a more pro-South Democrat was nominated at the May convention.
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"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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December 8, 1844

After the failure of the annexation attempt in June, a movement to annex Texas by joint resolution rather than international treaty began. Among the idea's original sponsors was Andrew Jackson himself.

The United States Constitution seems to provide a legal basis for this in declaring, "New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union." A joint resolution would require a simple majority instead of a two-thirds majority in Congress, making its passage much more likely.

President Tyler revived the initiative after the 1844 election confirmed Americans' support for westward expansion. A number of bills will likely be introduced in the coming months as the lame duck session of Congress meets, no longer encumbered by election year politics. In spite of the renewed optimism some officials have derided these repeated attempts at annexation, comparing them to the theology of William Miller: "Annexation is very much like the Millerite doctrine of the end of the world. It may be today, it may be next session, it may not be until the saints of this generation are all dead."
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"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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Mexico
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Mexico reminds the concerned parties that any attempt to annex Texas will be perceived as a grave offense against Mexican sovereignty. We do not recognize the right of a breakaway regime to negotiate the transfer of territory that is not legally theirs.
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Statement from John C. Calhoun, Secretary of State:

"If Mexico has taken offense at these negotiations, it should attack the United States, as we are the ones who proposed annexation."
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"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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March 1, 1845

Following approval by both houses of Congress, a resolution of annexation has been dispatched to the Republic of Texas for immediate consideration.


Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 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 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 by 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, 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 government, --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 and armaments, and all other means pertaining to the public defense, belonging to the said Republic of Texas, shall retain funds, debts, taxes and dues of every kind which may belong to, or be due and owing to the 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 Government of 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 the 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 shall 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.

3. And be it further resolved, That if the President of the United States shall in his judgment and discretion deem it most advisable, instead of proceeding to submit the foregoing resolution of the Republic of Texas, as an overture on the part of the United States for admission, to negotiate with the Republic; then,

Be it resolved, That a State, to be formed out of the present Republic of Texas, with suitable extent and boundaries, and with two representatives in Congress, until the next appointment of representation, shall be admitted into the Union, by virtue of this act, on an equal footing with the existing States, as soon as the terms and conditions of such admission, and the cession of the remaining Texian territory to the United States shall be agreed upon by the governments of Texas and the United States: And that the sum of one hundred thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated to defray the expenses of missions and negotiations, to agree upon the terms of said admission and cession, either by treaty to be submitted to the Senate, or by articles to be submitted to the two houses of Congress, as the President may direct.
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"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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Mexico
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Ambassador Almonte has given notice to the United States terminating diplomatic relations and the Mexican embassy in Washington has been closed. The country is ordered on a war footing.
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Republic of Texas
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Ordinance of Annexation
Approved by the Texas Convention
July 4, 1845



Whereas,

the Congress of the United States of America has passed resolutions providing for the annexation of Texas to that Union, which resolutions were offered by the President of the United States on the first day of March, 1845; and

Whereas,

the President of the United States has submitted to Texas the first and second sections of said resolutions, as the basis upon which Texas may be admitted as one of the States of the said Union; and

Whereas,

the existing Government of the Republic of Texas, has assented to the proposals thus made, --the terms and conditions of which are as follows:


[Text of U.S. Resolution]


Now in order to manifest the assent of the people of this Republic, as required in the above recited portions of said resolutions, we the deputies of the people of Texas, in convention assembled, in their name and by their authority, do ordain and declare, that we assent to and accept the proposals, conditions and guarantees, contained in the first and second sections of the Resolution of the Congress of the United States aforesaid.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names

Thomas J. Rusk
President

followed by 61 signatures

Attest
James H. Raymond
Secretary of the Convention.
"Y'all can go to Hell, and I'll go to Texas."
- Davy Crockett
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Joint Resolution for the Admission of the State of Texas into the Union

Whereas,

the Congress of the United States, by a joint resolution approved March the first, eighteen hundred and forty-five, did consent that the territory properly included within, and rightfully belonging to, the Republic of Texas, might 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 might be admitted as one of the States of the Union; which consent of Congress was given upon certain conditions specified in the first and second sections of said joint resolution; and whereas the people of the said Republic of Texas, by deputies in convention assembled, with the consent of the existing government, did adopt a constitution, and erect a new State with a republican form of government, and, in the name of the people of Texas, and by their authority, did ordain and declare that they assented to and accepted the proposals, conditions, and guaranties contained in said first and second sections of said resolution: and whereas the said constitution, with the proper evidence of its adoption by the people of the Republic of Texas, has been transmitted to the President of the United States and laid before Congress, in conformity to the provisions of said joint resolution:

Therefore--
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the State of Texas shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever.

Sec. 2. And be it further resolved, That until the representatives in Congress shall be apportioned according to an actual enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States, the State of Texas shall be entitled to choose two representatives.

Approved, December 29, 1845.
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"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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Republic of Texas
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February 19, 1846

The great measure of annexation, so earnestly desired by the people of Texas, is happily consummated.

The Lone Star of Texas, which ten years since arose amid clouds, over fields of carnage, and obscurely shone for a while, has culminated, and, following an inscrutable destiny, has passed on and become fixed forever in that glorious constellation, which all freemen and lovers of freedom in the world must reverence and adore -- the American Union.

Blending its rays with its sister stars, long may it continue to shine, and may a gracious Heaven smile upon this consummation of the wishes of the two Republics, now joined together in one.

The final act in this great drama is now performed: the Republic of Texas is no more.
"Y'all can go to Hell, and I'll go to Texas."
- Davy Crockett
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