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appointed by the two Governments, could accomplish all this; and

define and settle by negotiation and agreement, what might hereafter

arise calculated to disturb the future harmony of the United States

and perhaps injure Texas.

The amendment to Mr Brown’s resolutions appears to

me to afford the only means to obviate the objections to their provisions.

Their terms seem to me, to say the least of them, to be rigid;

because they require of us to pay a tribute or bonus to the United

States for leave to surrender our sovereignty and national in-

dependence—and this, too, in a most summary manner.

We are required to “cede” to the United States, “all public

edifices, fortifications, barracks, ports, harbors and navy

and navy yards, docks, magazines, arms, armaments, and

other property and means pertaining to the public defence

belonging to the said Republic of Texas.” It ought to have been

considered that the enumerated means and property have

occasioned a large portion of our national debt, and remain

to be paid for by Texas. They have probably cost this nation

not less than one million of dollars; and to admit that they

are now worth only half that sum, would fix their value

at a half million, which would be of great service in or-

ganizing a new government or governments, and in clearing

out our rivers and improving our facilities for transporting

produce to market by means of roads.

If Texas shall be required to surrender her property,

without receiving any remuneration for the same, it can

only be regarded in the light of a payment or tribute for

our admission into the Union. If the resolutions of Mr Brown

are to form the basis of our admission, this objection cannot

be removed, but must remain as a rebuke to us, in future

days, for our hasty and inconsiderate action.

By assuming the amendment as a basis, many

objections can be obviated, and by negotiation, terms less

exceptionable may be adopted. If the President of the United

States should appoint commissioners, and they should be

met by corresponding commissioners on the part of Texas,

they could come to an agreement upon such terms as would

be honorable and just to both parties. The terms thus agreed