I9I2.] OF THE UNITED STATES. 299 



viding for its annexation. In the Senate were many irreconcilable 

 opponents of the extension of slavery to which they believed this 

 treaty would conduce, and on June 8th, it was rejected by a vote of 

 35 to 1 6."- After the presidential election favorable to annexation, 

 a joint resolution was introduced, which, after a long and bitter de- 

 bate, passed in both houses of Congress by a narrow majority.'^ 

 Almost every possible view of the constitutional problems involved 

 were taken by members of Congress in debate : it was said that a 

 treaty was equivalent to a declaration of war on Mexico and uncon- 

 stitutional, and that the joint resolution lacked any semblance of con- 

 stitutional sanction, being really a negotiation with a foreign nation. 

 The truth was and is, that annexation was deemed by the pro- 

 slavery party, to be a vitally necessary measure, and they accom- 

 plished it in the only way they could, lacking as they did a two- 

 thirds majority in the Senate, where the vote they mustered was 27 

 to 25.'^* Even this majority was obtained, as Dr. von Hoist has con- 

 clusively shown, by attaching an amendment to the joint resolution 

 authorizing the President to proceed by treaty, accompanied by 

 representations that the President would adopt this alternative. 

 But rapidly developing political conditions necessitated haste, and 

 the promises on which a majority of senatorial votes had been 

 secured, were disregarded.'^ 



This precedent was followed in the annexation of Hawaii. 

 Numerous treaties had been negotiated which had failed of ratifica- 

 tion, and finally a joint resolution, reciting the assent of Hawaii by 

 a treaty signed by both parties, but not ratified by the Senate, was 

 passed by both Houses of Congress. Precisely two-thirds of the 

 Senators present voted for the resolution but from the debates it 

 would appear that a ratification of the treaty by the Senate could 

 not have been secured.'^" It may therefore be accepted as politically 



" Congressional Globe, Vol. 12. p. 698. 



" Ibid., Vol. 14, p. 362 in Senate, p. 372 in House. 



" See note 6. 



""Constitutional History of the United States." 1826-1896. Chap. VII.; 

 1846-1850, Chap. HI. 



""^ Congressional Record, Vol. 31, Part VII. Vote in Senate taken July 

 6, 1898, p. 6712. 



