866

THE UNITED STATES.

[PART IV.

1849. adopted by the people with great unanimity. Peter H. Burnet was elected chief magistrate, and the first legislature assembled at San José on the 20th of December, 1849.

1. What is said of the

fornia?

11. 'While California was 2 prey to anarchy and conduct of misrule, incident to the mixed character of its populathe legisla Lure of Cali- tion,-while the project of an independent republic was by some openly avowed, and while the interests of the people were neglected by the Congress of the United States, which was violently agitated by the clause in the new constitution prohibiting slavery, the legislature of California manifested, throughout, a noble spirit of devotion to the public good, and a faithful attachment to the American Union.

2. Give an account of

the difficul arose be

ties which

tween Tex

as and New

Mexico.

1850.

3. What measures

12. 'In the meantime, long standing animosities between Texas and New Mexico were involving those countries, and the general government, in a complication of difficulties. Texas had ever claimed, since she gained her independence of Mexico, that her territory extended to the Rio Grande; and she was determined to extend her authority there also, although the inhabitants of the valley of Santa Fe had ever rejected her pretensions, and resisted her rule. In February, 1850, Texas sent her commissioner to organize counwere taken ties in New Mexico, and enforce her jurisdiction over the disputed territory; but the United States civil and military governor at Santa Fe, disregarding the claims of Texas, and acting in accordance with instructions from Washington, favored the views of the people of New Mexico, who met in convention, and formed a constitution for a state government, which they transmitted to Washington for the approval of the American Congress. The agent of Texas was unable to accomplish his mission..

by Texas,

was the remult

4. What is said of the

tion,-and

people

13. 'While California and New Mexico were peti Mormon pe tioning for admission as states into the American he Mormon Union, a similar petition was sent up to Congress by a strange people from the very centre of the vast American wilderness. A few years before, a band of Mormons, or, as they style themselves, "Latter Day Saints," had collected at Nauvoo, in the state of Illinois, under the guidance of Joe Smith, their pretended

868

TAYLOR'S ADMINISTRATION.

PART IV. 1849. prophet and leader; but as serious dissensions arose between them and the neighboring people, they set out, like the Israelites of old, with "their flocks, their herds, and their little ones," to seek a refuge in the wilderness, far away from those who, while they pitied their fanaticism, hated them, and despised their religion.

1 of their establishment in

-and the.

this strange

14. 'Passing beyond the Rocky Mountains, they found, in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, in NorthCalifornia ern California, a delightful and fertile region, which uccess of they chose for their future home, and the seat of a new imposture religion, which, in its infancy, has been little less suc cessful than that of the Arabian impostor. Not from the states only, but even from Europe, the Mormon missionaries brought in their proselytes by hundreds and by thousands: their thrifty settlements rapidly increased; and while they were scarcely thought of by the world's people" but as a band of outcasts, we find them, in the year 1850, asking to be enumerated as a member of our confederacy, and the American Congress gravely discussing the terms of the admission of the new territory of "Utah!"

1850.

2. What is Baid of the

death of General Taylor?

66

15. While Congress was still in session, engaged in acrimonious debate on the various subjects which arose out of the connection of slavery with the new territories, the country was called to mourn the sudden loss of its chief magistrate. Zachary Taylor died at Washington on the 9th of July, after an illness of less than a week. Among his last words were, "I have endeavored to do my duty. I am not afraid to die." His memory will ever be cherished by his countrymen as 3. Of the that of an able and good man. In the language of an attributed to eminent political opponent, "The integrity of his mohim by Gen- tives was never assailed nor assailable. He had passed a. General through a long and active life, neither meriting nor meeting reproach, and, in his last hour, the conviction of the honest discharge of his duty was present to console, even when the things of this life were fast fading

character

eral Cass?

Cass.

a

CHAPTER XIII.

FILMORE'S ADMINISTRATION,

FROM JULY 10, 1850, TO MARCH 4, 1853.

1. 'On the day following the decease of the president, the vicepresident, Millard Filmore, proceeded to the Hall of the House of Representatives, and there, in accordance with the constitution, and in the presence of both Houses of Congress, took the oath of office as President of the United States. Without commotion, without any military parade, but with republican simplicity, the legitimate successor to the presidency was installed in office, and the wheels of government moved on as harmoniously as ever; presenting to the world a sublime spectacle of the beauty and perfection of self-government.

1850.

1. What is

said of Mr. accession to the presi

Filmore's

dency?

What was

the charac

ter

of the 1st

the

session of

31st Con

gress?

3. What were the great sub

2. The first session of the 31st Congress, which 2. opened on the 3d of Nov. 1849, and closed on the 30th of September, 1850,-was one of the longest and most exciting ever held. The great subjects of discussion were, the admission of California with the constitution she had adopted, and the Texas boundary fects of disquestion. With these was involved the long agitated question of slavery, in all its various phases-respect-involved ing the extension of slavery to new territory-its abolition in the District of Columbia, and the restoration of fugitive slaves to their owners.

3. Early in the session, before the death of General Taylor, Mr. Clay, at the head of a committee of thirteen, had reported to the Senate a bill providing for the admission of California with the constitution she had adopted-for the organization of the territories of New Mexico and Utah, and for the adjustment of the Texas boundary. "This project, which received the name of the "Omnibus bill," was strongly contested, and crippled by various amendments, until nothing remained

cussion?

5. What is Clay's bill?

said of Mr.

What

his vi

the fate