voice will determine the all-important issue; and, so far as it shall depend upon the Executive to act, he will give immediate and full effect to the expression of their will.

His situation in regard to the important subjects now communicated to Congress, has, since their last adjournment, been one of great delicacy and embarrassment. Questions of much difficulty have been presented for his determination, upon which the fate and welfare of the country depended; and, without precedent or constitutional guide for his governance, he has been obliged to assume in consequence great and severe responsibilities. He trusts, however, that Congress will approve the course he has adopted, and by their enlightened counsels relieve and direct him in the course hereafter to be pursued in relation to those questions.

The Executive is happy to announce to Congress that Texas is at peace with the world; that with all foreign Powers, with whom we have had intercourse, friendly relations are maintained. The different tribes of Indians on our borders, with whom Treaties exist, have continued to observe the same with good faith, and, within the last few days, information has been received that the only band of Camanches within our limits, who had maintained until then a hostile attitude towards Texas, have sued for peace, and expressed a wish to be permitted to come to Bexar to celebrate a Treaty of Friendship, which, on the part of this Government, has been complied with.

The arrangements made at your regular session, for additional companies of rangers, to be mustered into service, have been carried into full effect, and have afforded adequate and very efficient protection to our frontiers. The receipts into the Treasury have been sufficient to meet the various expenditures of the Government. specie currency has been maintained without difficulty, and nearly all the Exchequer bills, which were in circulation at the period of your late adjournment, have been redeemed and withdrawn from circulation, and the Executive is happy to congratulate the Congress and the country upon a state of peace, happiness, and prosperity never before experienced by Texas, and rarely, if ever, equalled by so young

a nation.

It only remains for the Executive to express an assured confidence in your individual wishes to sustain the best interests of Texas, and the fervent hope that He who holds the destinies of men and nations in his hand may crown your deliberations with his richest blessings. ANSON JONES

ORDINANCE of the Deputies of the People of Texas, accepting the Proposals of the Congress of The United States, for the admission of Texas into the Union-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 approved by the President of The United States on the 1st day of March, 1845; and whereas the President of The United States has submitted to Texas the 1st and 2nd Sections of the said Resolution, 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:

[Here follow the two first Sections of the Joint Resolution of the Congress of The United States of March 1, 1845. Page 265.]

Now, in order to manifest the assent of the people of this Republic, as required in the above recited portions of the 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 1st and 2nd Sections of the Resolution of the Congress of The United States aforesaid.

THOMAS J. RUSK, President.

[Here follow the signatures of 55 Deputies.]

Adopted July 4, 1845.

RESOLUTION of the Deputies of the People of Texas inviting the Introduction of The United States' Forces into the Republic.-Austin, July 7, 1845.

Be it resolved by the Deputies of the People in Convention assembled, that the President of the United States of America is hereby authorized and requested to occupy and establish posts, without delay, upon the frontier and exposed positions of this Republic; and to introduce for such purpose, and defence of the territory and people of Texas, such forces as may be necessary and advisable for the same. Adopted in Convention, at the city of Austin, Republic of Texas, July 7, 1845.

THOMAS J. RUSK, President.

CONSTITUTION of the State of Texas.-Austin, August 27, 1845.

WE, the people of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging with gratitude the grace and beneficence of God, in permitting us to make choice of our form of government, do, in accordance with the provisions of the joint Resolution for annexing Texas to The United States, approved March 1st, 1845,* ordain and establish this Constitution. ART. I-Bill of Rights.

That the general, great, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare that: SECT. 1. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free Governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit; and they have at all times the unalienable right to alter, reform, or abolish their form of government, in such manner as they may think expedient.

2. All freemen, when they form a social compact, have equal rights; and no man or set of men is entitled to exclusive, separate public emoluments or privileges, but in consideration of public services.

3. No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust in this State.

4. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences; no man shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent; no human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion; and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious societies or modes of worship. But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as shall be necessary to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of their own mode of public worship.

5. Every citizen shall be at liberty to speak, write, or publish his opinions on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege; and no law shall ever be passed curtailing the liberty of speech or of the press.

6. In prosecutions for the publication of papers investigating the official conduct of officers, or men in a public capacity, or where the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence. And in all indictments for libels, the jury shall have a right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the Court, as in other cases.

7. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, from all unreasonable seizures or searches ; and no warrant * Page 265.

to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue, without describing them as near as may be; nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

8. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have a speedy public trial, by an impartial jury; he shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself; he shall have the right of being heard by himself or counsel, or both; shall be confronted with the witnesses against him, and shall have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favour; and no person shall be holden to answer for any criminal -charge, but on indictment or information, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or offences against the laws regulating the militia.

9. All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences, when the proof is evident or the presumption great; but this provision shall not be so construed as to prohibit bail after indictment found, upon an examination of the evidence by a judge of the Supreme or District Court, upon the return of the writ of habeas corpus, returnable in the county where the offence is committed.

10. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, except when, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.

11 Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishment inflicted. All courts shall be open; and every person, for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law.

12. No person for the same offence shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall a person be again put upon trial for the same offence after a verdict of not guilty; and the right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.

13. Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms, in the lawful defence of himself or the State.

14. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive law, or any law impairing the obligation of contracts, shall be made; and no person's property shall be taken or applied to public use, without adequate compensation being made, unless by the consent of such person.

15. No person shall ever be imprisoned for debt.

16. No citizen of this State shall be deprived of life, liberty, property, or privileges, outlawed, exiled, or in any manner disfranchised, except by due course of the law of the land.

17. The military shall at all times be subordinate to the civil authority.

18. Perpetuites and monopolies are contrary to the genius of a free Government, and shall never be allowed; nor shall the law of primogeniture or entailments ever be in force in this State,

19. The citizens shall have the right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of Government for redress of grievances, or other purposes, by petition, address, or remonstrance.

20. No power of suspending laws in this State shall be exercised, except by the Legislature, or its authority.

21. To guard against transgressions of the high powers herein delegated, we declare that every thing in this "Bill of Rights" is excepted out of the general powers of Government, and shall for ever remain inviolate; and all laws contrary thereto, or to the following provisions, shall be void.

II.-Division of the Powers of Government.

SECT. 1. The powers of the Government of the State of Texas shall be divided into 3 distinct departments, and each of them be confided to a separate body of magistracy. To wit: Those which are legislative, to one; those which are executive, to another; and those which are judicial, to another: and no person or collection of persons, being of one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly attached to either of the others, except in the instances herein expressly permitted.

III.-Legislative Department.

SECT. 1. Every free male person who shall have attained the age of 21 years, and who shall be a citizen of The United States, or who is at the time of the adoption of this Constitution by the Congress of The United States a citizen of the Republic of Texas, and shall have resided in this State 1 year next preceding an election, and the last 6 months within the district, county, city, or town, in which he offers to vote, (Indians not taxed, Africans, and descendants of Africans, excepted,) shall be deemed a qualified elector; and should such qualified elector happen to be in any other county situated in the district in which he resides, at the time of an election, he shall be permitted to vote for any district officer; provided that the qualified electors shall be permitted to vote anywhere in the State for State officers; and provided further, that no soldier, seaman, or marine, in the army or navy of The United States, shall be entitled to vote at any election created by this Constitution.

2. All free male persons over the age of 21 years, (Indians .not taxed, Africans, and descendants of Africans, excepted,) who shall have resided 6 months in Texas immediately preceding the acceptance of this Constitution by the Congress of The United States, shall be deemed qualified electors.

3. Electors, in all cases, shall be privileged from arrest during