Congressional joint resolution for the annexation of Texas, January 30, 1845
Joint Resolution passed by the US House of Representatives 120-98.
[Note: the
full text of House Resolution No. 46 is available online via the The Library of Congress, American Memory, Law Making Home, Bills and Resolutionsat . To view the resolution
click on "Browse House Bills and Resolutions" then 29th Congress, Page Turner, and enter 46 in the search box.]
Declaring the terms on which Congress will admit Texas into the Union as a State:
Resolved, &c. 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.
Sec. 2. and be it further resolved, that the foregoing consent of Congress is given upon the following
conditions, and with the following guarantees 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 the 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, 1840.
Second. Said State, when admitted into the Union, after ceding to the United States all
mines, salt lakes and springs, and also all public edifiers, fortifications, barracks, ports and
harbours, navy and navy-yards, docks, magazines, arms, armaments, and all other property
and means pertaining to the public defense belonging to said republic of Texas, shall retain
all the public funds, debts, taxes, and dues of every kind which may belong to, or be due and
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, 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, 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.
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