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Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States
Approved March 1, 1845
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.
Approved, March 1, 1845.
SOURCE:
Peters, Richard, ed., The Public Statutes at Large of the United States
of America, v.5, pp. 797-798, Boston, Chas. C. Little and Jas. Brown,
1850.
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