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rights of the new President. These state- | latter to be slightly in excess of seventeen ments from the friends of the Secretary and millions; and a recommendation for a rePresident that the plan by negotiation vision of the tariff, with a view to revenue would be adopted, quieted the apprehen- as the object, with protection to home insion of those Senators opposed to legislative dustry as the incident. annexation or admission, and thus secured At this session of Congress, the States of their votes, without which the bill would Florida and Iowa were admitted into the have failed of a majority. Thus was Texas Union; the former permitting slavery incorporated into the Union. The legisla- within its borders, the latter denying it. tive proposition sent by Mr. Tyler was ac- Long before this, the free and the slave cepted: Texas became incorporated with States were equal in number, and the practhe United States, and in consequence the tice had grown up- from a feeling of state of war was established between the jealousy and policy to keep them evenly United States and Mexico; it only being a balanced-of admitting one State of cach question of time and chance when the character at the same time. Numerically armistice should end and hostilities begin. the free and the slave States were thus Although Mr. Calhoun was not in favor of kept even: in political power a vast inwar with Mexico-he believing that a equality was going on-the increase of money payment would settle the differ-population being so much greater in the ences with that country -the admission northern than in the southern region. of Texas into the Union under the legisla- The Ashburton treaty of 1842 omitted to tive annexation clause of the statute, was define the boundary line, and permitted, really his act and not that of the Presi- or rather did not prohibit, the joint occudent's; and he was, in consequence, after-pation of Oregon by British and American wards openly charged in the Senate with settlers. This had been a subject of disbeing the real author of the war which followed.

pute for many years. The country on the Columbia River had been claimed by both. The administration of President Polk Under previous treaties the American opened March 4, 1845; and on the same northern boundary extended "to the latiday, the Senate being convened for the tude of 49 degrees north of the equator, purpose, the cabinet ministers were nomi- and along that parallel indefinitely to the nated and confirmed. In December fol- west." Attempts were made in 1842 and lowing the 29th Congress was organized. continuing since to 1846, to settle this The House of Representatives, being boundary line, by treaty with Great Britain. largely Democratic, elected the Speaker, It had been assumed that we had a dividby a vote of 120, against 70 for the Whig ing line, made by previous treaty, along candidate. At this session the "Ameri- the parallel of 54 degrees 40 minutes from can" party-a new political organization the sea to the Rocky mountains. The sub-first made its appearance in the Na-ject so much absorbed public attention, tional councils, having elected six mem- that the Democratic National convention bers of the House of Representatives, four of 1844 in its platform of principles defrom New York and two from Penn-clared for that boundary line, or war as sylvania. The President's first annual the consequence. It became known as the message had for its chief topic, the admis- 54-40 plank, and was a canon of political sion of Texas, then accomplished, and the faith. The negotiations between the govconsequent dissatisfaction of Mexico; and ernments were resumed in August, 1844. referring to the preparations on the part of The Secretary of State, Mr. Calhoun, prothe latter with the apparent intention of posed a line along the parallel of 49 dedeclaring war on the United States, either grees of north latitude to the summit of by an open declaration, or by invading the Rocky mountains and continuing that Texas. The message also stated causes line thence to the Pacific Ocean; and he which would justify this government in made this proposition notwithstanding the taking the initiative in declaring war-fact that the Democratic party to which he mainly the non-compliance by Mexico belonged-were then in a high state of with the terms of the treaty of indemnity exultation for the boundary of 54 degrees of April 11, 1839, entered into between 40 minutes, and the presidential canvass, that State and this government relative to on the Democratic side, was raging upon injuries to American citizens during the that cry. previous eight years. He also referred to the fact of a minister having been sent to Mexico to endeavor to bring about a settlement of the differences between the nations, without a resort to hostilities. The message concluded with a reference to the negotiations with Great Britain relative to the Oregon boundary; a statement of the finances and the public debt, showing the

The British Minister declined this proposition in the part that carried the line to the ocean, but offered to continue it from the summit of the mountains to the Columbia River, a distance of some three hundred miles, and then follow the river to the ocean. This was declined by Mr. Calhoun. The President had declared in his inaugural address in favor of the 54-40

United States. And for this purpose Congfess granted an appropriation of three millions of dollars to be placed at the disposal of the President, for negotiating for a boundary which should give the United States additional territory

line. He was in a dilemma; to maintain The reason for these impressions was that position meant war with Great Britain; that an intrigue was laid, with the knowto recede from it seemed impossible. The ledge of the Executive, for a peace, even proposition for the line of 49 degrees hav- before the war was declared, and a special ing been withdrawn by the American gov- agent dispatched to bring about a return ernment on its non-acceptance by the Brit- to Mexico of its exiled President, General ish, had appeased the Democratic storm Santa Anna, and conclude a treaty of which had been raised against the Presi-peace with him, on terms favorable to the dent. Congress had come together under the loud cry of war, in which Mr. Cass was the leader, but followed by the body of the democracy, and backed and cheered by the whole democratic newspaper press. Under the authority and order of Congress notice had been served on Great Britain which was to abrogate the joint occupation of the country by the citizens of the two powers. It was finally resolved by the British Government to propose the line of 49 degrees, continuing to the ocean, as originally offered by Mr. Calhoun; and though the President was favorable to its acceptance, he could not, consistently with his previous acts, accept and make a treaty on that basis. The Senate, with whom lies the power, under the constitution, of confirming or restricting all treaties, being favorable to it, without respect to party lines, resort was had, as in the early practice of the Government, to the President, asking the advice of the Senate upon the articles of a treaty before negotiation. A message was accordingly sent to the Senate, by the President, stating the proposition, and asking its advice, thus shifting the responsibility upon that body, and making the issue of peace or war depend upon its answer. The Senate advised the acceptance of the proposition, and the treaty was concluded.

The conduct of the Whig Senators, without whose votes the advice would not have been given nor the treaty made, was patriotic in preferring their country to their party-in preventing a war with Great Britain--and saving the administration from itself and its party friends.

The second session of the 29th Congress was opened in December, 1847 The President's message was chiefly in relation to the war with Mexico, which had been declared by almost a unanimous vote in Congress. Mr. Calhoun spoke against the declaration in the Senate, but did not vote upon it. He was sincerely opposed to the war, although his conduct had produced it. Had he remained in the cabinet, to do which he had not concealed his wish, he would, no doubt, have labored earnestly to have prevented it. Many members of Congress, of the same party with the administration, were extremely averse to the war, and had interviews with the President, to see if it was inevitable, before it was declared. Members were under the impression that the war could not last above three months.

While this matter was pending in Congress, Mr. Wilmot of Pennsylvania introduced and moved a proviso," that no part of the territory to be acquired should be open to the introduction of slavery." It was a proposition not necessary for the purpose of excluding slavery, as the only territory to be acquired was that of New Mexico and California, where slavery was already prohibited by the Mexican laws and constitution. The proviso was therefore nugatory, and only served to bring on a slavery agitation in the United States. For this purpose it was seized upon by Mr. Calhoun and declared to be an outrage upon and menace to the slave-holding States. It occupied the attention of Congress for two sessions, and became the subject of debate in the State Legislatures, several of which passed disunion resolutions. It became the watchword of partythe synonym of civil war, and the dissolution of the Union. Neither party really had anything to fear or to hope from the adoption of the proviso-the soil was free, and the Democrats were not in a position to make slave territory of it, because it had just enunciated as one of its cardinal principles, that there was no power in Congress to legislate upon slavery in Territories." Never did two political parties contend more furiously about nothing. Close observers, who had been watching the progress of the slavery agitation since its inauguration in Congress in 1835, knew it to be the means of keeping up an agitation for the benefit of the political parties-the abolitionists on one side and the disunionists or nullifiers on the other to accomplish their own purposes. This was the celebrated Wilmot Proviso, which for so long a time convulsed the Union; assisted in forcing the issue between the North and South on the slavery question, and almost caused a dissolution of the Union. The proviso was defeated; that chance of the nullifiers to force the issue was lost; another had to be made, which was speedily done, by the introduction into the Senate on the 19th February, 1847, by Mr. Calhoun of his new slavery resolutions, declaring the Territories to be the common property of the several States; denying

the right of Congress to prohibit slavery | passed with an amendment incorporating in a Territory, or to pass any law which into it the anti-slavery clause of the ordiwould have the effect to deprive the citi-nance of 1787 Mr. Calhoun, in the Senzens of any slave State from emigrating ate, declared that the exclusion of slavery with his property (slaves) into such Terri- from any territory was a subversion of the tory. The introduction of the resolutions Union; openly proclaimed the strife bewas prefaced by an elaborate speech by tween the North and South to be ended, Mr. Calhoun, who demanded an immediate and the separation of the States accomvote upon them. They never came to a plished. His speech was an open invocavote; they were evidently introduced for tion to disunion, and from that time forth, the mere purpose of carrying a question to the efforts were regular to obtain a meetthe slave States on which they could be ing of the members from the slave States, formed into a unit against the free States; to unite in a call for a convention of the and so began the agitation which finally slave States to redress themselves. He led to the abrogation of the Missouri Com-said: "The great strife between the North promise line, and arrayed the States of one and the South is ended. The North is section against those of the other. determined to exclude the property of the The Thirtieth Congress, which assem-slaveholder, and, of course, the slaveholder bled for its first session in December, 1847, himself, from its territory On this point was found, so far as respects the House of there seems to be no division in the North. Representatives, to be politically adverse | In the South, he regretted to say, there to the administration. The Whigs were was some division of sentiment. The in the majority, and elected the Speaker; effect of this determination of the North Robert C. Winthrop, of Massachusetts, was to convert all the Southern population being chosen. The President's message into slaves; and he would never consent contained a full report of the progress of to entail that disgrace on his posterity the war with Mexico; the success of the He denounced any Southern man who American arms in that conflict; the vic-would not take the same course. Gentletory of Cerro Gordo, and the capture of men were greatly mistaken if they supthe City of Mexico; and that negotiations posed the Presidential question in the were then pending for a treaty of peace. South would override this more important The message concluded with a reference one. The separation of the North and the to the excellent results from the indepen-South is completed. The South has now dent treasury system.

a most solemn obligation to perform-to The war with Mexico was ended by the herself to the constitution—to the Union. signing of a treaty of peace, in February, She is bound to come to a decision not to 1848, by the terms of which New Mexico permit this to go on any further, but to and Upper California were ceded to the show that, dearly as she prizes the Union, United States, and the lower Rio Grande, there are questions which she regards as from its mouth to El Paso, taken for the of greater importance than the Union. boundary of Texas. For the territory thus This is not a question of territorial governacquired, the United States agreed to pay ment, but a question involving the conto Mexico the sum of fifteen million dol-tinuance of the Union." The President, lars, in five annual installments; and be- in approving the Oregon bill, took occasides that, assumed the claims of Ameri-sion to send in a special message, pointcan citizens against Mexico, limited to ing out the danger to the Union from the three and a quarter million dollars, out of progress of the slavery agitation, and urged and on account of which claims the war an adherence to the principles of the ordiostensibly originated. The victories achiev-nance of 1787-the terms of the Missouri ed by the American commanders, Generals compromise of 1820-as also that involved Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, during and declared in the Texas case in 1845, as that war, won for them national reputations, by means of which they were brought prominently forward for the Presidential succession.

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the means of averting that danger.

The Presidential election of 1848 was coming on. The Democratic convention met in Baltimore in May of that year; The question of the power of Congress to each State being represented in the conlegislate on the subject of slavery in the vention by the number of delegates equal Territories, was again raised, at this session, to the number of electoral votes it was enon the bill for the establishment of the titled to; saving only New York, which Oregon territorial government. An amend- sent two sets of delegates, and both were ment was offered to insert a provision for excluded. The delegates were, for the the extension of the Missouri compromise most part, members of Congress and officeliue to the Pacific Ocean; which line thus holders. The two-thirds rule, adopted by extended was intended by the amendment the previous convention, was again made to be permanent, and to apply to all future a law of the convention. The main questerritories established in the West. This tion which arose upon the formation of amendment was lost, but the bill was finally the platform for the campaign, was the

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doctrine advanced by the Southern mem-tually that the money of the Constitution bers of non-interference with slavery in-gold and silver-was the only currency the States or in the Territories. The can- to ensure a successful financial working of didates of the party were, Lewis Cass, of the government, and prosperity to the peoMichigan, for President, and General Wm. ple. O. Butler, of Kentucky, for Vice-Presi- The new President, General Zachary Taylor, was inaugurated March 4, 1849. The Whig convention, taking advan- The Senate being convened, as usual, in tage of the popularity of Genl. Zachary extra session, for the purpose, the Vice Taylor, for his military achievements in President elect, Millard Fillmore, was duly the Mexican war, then just ended; and installed; and the Whig cabinet officers his consequent availability as a candidate, nominated by the President, promptly nominated him for the Presidency, over Mr. confirmed. An additional member of the Clay, Mr. Webster and General Scott, who Cabinet was appointed by this administrawere his competitors before the convention. tion to preside over the new "Home DeMillard Fillmore was selected as the Vice-partment" since called the "Interior," presidential candidate. created at the previous session of Congress.

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A third convention was held, consisting of the disaffected Democrats from New The following December Congress met York who had been excluded from the in regular session-the 31st since the orBaltimore convention. They met at Utica, ganization of the federal government. New York, and nominated Martin Van The Senate consisted of sixty members, Bnren for President, and Charles Francis among whom were Mr. Webster, Mr. CalAdams for Vice President. The princi-houn, and Mr. Clay, who had returned to ples of its platform, were, that Congress public life. The House had 230 members; should abolish slavery wherever it consti- and although the whigs had a small matutionally had the power to do 80-[which jority, the House was so divided on the was intended to apply to the District of slavery question in its various phases, Columbia]-that it should not interfere that the election for Speaker resulted in with it in the slave States-and that it the choice of the Democratic candidate, should prohibit it in the Territories. This Mr. Cobb, of Georgia, by a majority of party became known as "Free-soilers, "three votes. The annual message of the from their doctrines thus enumerated, and their party cry of "free-soil, free-speech, free-labor, free-men." The result of the election, as might have been foreseen, was to lose New York State to the Baltimore candidate, and give it to the whigs, who were triumphant in the reception of 163 electoral votes for their candidates, against 127 for the democrats; and none for the free-soilers.

President plainly showed that he comprehended the dangers to the Union from a continuance of sectional feeling on the slavery question, and he averred his determination to stand by the Union to the full extent of his obligations and powers. At the previous session Congress had spent six months in endeavoring to frame a satisfactory bill providing territorial governments for California and New Mexico, The last message of President Polk, in and had adjourned finally without accomDecember following, gave him the oppor- plishing it, in consequence of inability to tunity to again urge upon Congress the agree upon whether the Missouri compronecessity for some measure to quiet the mise line should be carried to the ocean, slavery agitation, and he recommended or the territories be permitted to remain the extension of the Missouri compromise as they were-slavery prohibited under line to the Pacific Ocean, passing through the laws of Mexico. Mr. Calhoun brought the new Territories of California and New forward, in the debate, a new doctrineMexico, as a fair adjustment, to meet as extending the Constitution to the territory, far as possible the views of all parties. and arguing that as that instrument recogThe President referred also to the state of nized the existence of slavery, the settlers the finances; the excellent condition of in such territory should be permitted to the public treasury; government loans, hold their slave property taken there, and commanding a high premium; gold and be protected. Mr. Webster's answer to silver the established currency; and the this was that the Constitution was made business interests of the country in a pros- for States, not territories; that it cannot perous condition. And this was the state operate anywhere, not even in the States of affairs, only one year after emergency for which it was made, without acts of from a foreign war. It would be unfair Congress to enforce it. The proposed exnot to give credit to the President and to tension of the constitution to territories, Senator Benton and others equally promi- with a view to its transportation of slavery nent and courageous, who at that time had along with it, was futile and nugatory, to battle against the bank theory and without the act of Congress to vitalize national paper money currency, as strongly slavery under it. The early part of the arged and advocated, and to prove even-year had witnessed ominous movements—

Mr. Clay in reply, said: "Coming from a slave State, as I do, I owe it to myself, I owe it to truth, I owe it to the subject, to say that no earthly power could induce me to vote for a specific measure for the introduction of slavery where it had not before existed, either south or north of that line. If the citizens of those

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nightly meetings of large numbers of mem- | from any of the United States at the option bers from the slave States, led by Mr. of their owner. Calhoun, to consider the state of things between the North and the South. They appointed committees who prepared an address to the people. It was in this condition of things, that President Taylor expressed his opinion, in his message, of the remedies required. California, New Mexico and Utah, had been left without governments. For California, he recom- territories choose to establish slavery, and mended that having a sufficient popula- if they come here with constitutions estion and having framed a constitution, tablishing slavery, I am for admitting she be admitted as a State into the them with such provisions in their constiUnion; and for New Mexico and Utah, tutions; but then it will be their own without mixing the slavery question with work, and not ours, and their posterity their territorial governments, they be left will have to reproach them, and not us, for to ripen into States, and settle the slavery forming constitutions allowing the instituquestion for themselves in their State con- tion of slavery to exist among them."

stitutions.

With a view to meet the wishes of all parties, and arrive at some definite and permanent adjustment of the slavery question, Mr. Clay early in the session introduced compromise resolutions which were practically a tacking together of the several bills then on the calendar, providing for the admission of California-the territorial government for Utah and New Mexico-the settlement of the Texas boundary-slavery in the District of Columbia -and for a fugitive slave law. It was seriously and earnestly opposed by many, as being a concession to the spirit of disunion-a capitulation under threat of secession; and as likely to become the source of more contentions than it proposed to quiet.

Mr. Seward of New York, proposed a renewal of the Wilmot Proviso, in the following resolution: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than by conviction for crime, shall ever be allowed in either of said territories of Utah and New Mexico;" but his resolution was rejected in the Senate by a vote of 23 yeas to 33 nays. Following this, Mr. Calhoun had read for him in the Senate, by his friend James M. Mason of Virginia, his last speech. It embodied the points covered by the address to the people, prepared by him the previous year; the probability of a dissolution of the Union, and presenting a case to justify it. The tenor of the speech is shown by the following extracts from it: "I have, Senators, believed from the first, that the agitation of the subThe resolutions were referred to a special ject of slavery would, if not prevented by committee, who promptly reported a bill some timely and effective measure, end in embracing the comprehensive plan of com- disunion. Entertaining this opinion, I promise which Mr. Clay proposed. Among have, on all proper occasions, endeavored to the resolutions offered, was the following: call the attention of each of the two great "Resolved, that as slavery does not exist parties which divide the country to adopt by law and is not likely to be introduced some measure to prevent so great a disasinto any of the territory acquired by the ter, but without success. The agitation has United States from the Republic of Mexi- been permitted to proceed, with almost no co, it is inexpedient for Congress to pro-attempt to resist it, until it has reached a vide by law either for its introduction into period when it can no longer be disguised or exclusion from any part of the said ter- or denied that the Union is in danger. ritory; and that appropriate territorial You have had forced upon you the greatgovernments ought to be established by est and gravest question that can ever Congress in all of the said territory, and come under your consideration: How can

assigned as the boundaries of the proposed the Union be preserved? * *

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State of California, without the adoption Instead of being weaker, all the elements of any restriction or condition on the sub-in favor of agitation are stronger now than ject of slavery' Mr. Jefferson Davis of they were in 1835, when it first commenced, Mississippi, objected that the measure gave while all the elements of influence on the nothing to the South in the settlement of part of the South are weaker. Unless the question; and he required the exten- something decisive is done, I again ask sion of the Missouri compromise line to what is to stop this agitation, before the the Pacific Ocean as the least that he great and final object at which it aimswould be willing to take, with the specific the abolition of slavery in the States-is recognition of the right to hold slaves in consummated? Is it, then, not certain that the territory below that line; and that, be- if something decisive is not now done to fore such territories are admitted into the arrest it, the South will be forced to choose Union as States, slaves may be taken there between abolition and secession? Indeed

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