NO SECURITY EXCEPT BY BAW ENFORCED. Oregon for an ally, and set up for herself. To prerent any such disaster, Gen. Taylor gave the Californians the timely assurance, that "whatever can be done to afford the people of the Territories the benefits of civil government, and the protection that is due them, will be anxiously considered and attempted by the executive." He suggested to them the expediency of forming a state government for themselves, thereafter to be submitted to congress. sent to California by dent.) 1848. (Aug. 7. Mason, now a brevet Brig dier.G era, learning the exist ence of the treaty civil April 13. 4. These counsels tended to keep the leading poli- the Presi ticians of California true to the Union. Indeed, they loved their native land, and confided in her ultimate justice. But while waiting for future protection, the exciting present was upon them. THERE, were the gathered and the gathering thousands, attracted from every land by the sovereign power of gold; and government, in addition to that exercised by Gen. Mason, the military commandant, the citizens found it necessary to exercise among themselves. At first it assumes was informal; and he who was found guilty of high powers.) crimes, was put to death, with little ceremony or de- 1849. lay. Gen. Riley, the hero of Contreras, who suc- Riley succeeded Gen. Mason as military governor, issued his Mason. proclamation August 1st, 1849, establishing a species Aug. 1. of judiciary, at the head of which was placed Peter H. Burnet. Subsequently, he issued another proclamation, inviting the citizens to choose delegates to form a constitution for a state government. Delegates were consequently chosen; who met at Monterey, September 1st, 1849, and there formed a constitution, which was accepted by the people. Slavery had, in the mean time, been decided against, by a special convention holden at San Francisco, and it was accordingly excluded by the constitution 5. The first legislature convened at San José, De General Taylor suggest by a letter of his Secretary to his agent, Thomas Butler King?-4. What were the necessities of the Californians in regard to civil government? Who was General Riley? What was done by him? What was done is consequence of his proclamation How was the slavery questiou disposed of. Where did the first Legislature of ceeds A sort of Judiciary estab fished. Sept. 1. terey, met to At Mon delegates form a State govern ment. 3 396 P'D IV. Dec. 21. José, first Gov. Bur quent WONDERFUL TRANSITION. PT. cember 20th, 1849. Peter H. Burnet, who was elected chief magistrate, addressed to the senate and assemCH.. bly a message of extraordinary interest. "How 1849. rapid," he exclaims-" how astonishing have been the At San changes in California! Twenty months ago, inhabited Legisla by a sparse population-a pastoral people, deriving a ture meet. mere subsistence from their flocks and herds, and a scanty cultivation of the soil;-now,-the inexhaustnet's elo ible gold mines discovered,—our ports are filled with address shipping from every clime; our beautiful bays and placid rivers are navigated by steam; and commercial An exam cities have sprung up as if by enchantment. ple for Now we are here assembled for the sublime task of organizing a new state. But should our constitution conflict with the constitution of our common country, Burnet that must prevail. That great instrument, which now wisdom governs more than twenty millions of people, and links in one common destiny thirty states, demands our mend to purest affections, and our first and highest duty. We would leave our people to suffer on, taxation rather than violate one single principle of that great than in- fundamental law of the land." Gov. Burnet believed, however, that there would be no such violation, and the members accordingly proceeded to legislative older states (Gov. had the and bold ness to recom the peo ple direct rather debted ness.) action. (Edward 6. The choice of senators to congress fell upon and G. H. John C. Fremont and William M. Gwin. Gilbert Wright senta Feb. 13. The con ürst repre- stitution of California, and her petition for admittance tives.) into the Union, were carried by them to Washington, 1850. and by the president transmitted to congress, with a President commendatory message. The clause prohibiting slasends to very was, in congress, as a torch applied to explosives; Congress some southern members declaring that its adoption by stitution congress would be the cause of immediate secession. fornia, 7. Other subjects of appalling difficulty pressed upon Taylor the con of Cali California meet? Who was chosen governor? What was there in his speech concerning rapid changes? For what, did he say, the Legislature had assembled? Should their constitution conflict with that of the United States-what then? -6. What senators were the first chosen? What did they carry to Washington? What effect was produced in Congress TEXAS THREATENS NEW MEXICO. 397 P'D IV. Jan. Texas makes assert her Major bours at Santa Fé. Texas and U. States govern mente in congress;-all, however, implicated in the one ab- P'T IV. sorbing topic of slavery. Texas claimed that her territory extended to the Rio Grande; but the New-CH.. Mexicans in and around Santa Fé, east of the Rio 1849. Grande, had never submitted, and were utterly averse to her rule. In January, 1849, her legislature passed laws to laws, dividing the disputed region into counties. Το power organize in these counties a Texan government, Gov. Over New Bell, the executive, sent an agent, Major Neighbours, 1850. to Santa Fé, who warned Col. Monroe, the United April 18. States military commandant, against all "interfer- Neighence. Colonel Monroe, finding the New Mexicans enraged, and being instructed from Washington, called a convention, which framed a state constitution; and, while Texas was making preparations to seize this territory by force, the petition of New Mexico to be admitted into the Union was introduced into congress. 8. While New Mexico was petitioning congress for 1850. a government, another remarkable people were at their doors with the same request. These were the enterprising Mormons, who had found a resting-place on the borders of the Salt Lake,-where, collecting their scattered bands, and sending out their leaders to return with proselytes, they had now a flourishing settlement, numbering some thousands.t-Another exciting subject was a bill introduced by Senator Butler, of South Carolina, for a new law, to enable the masters of fugitive slaves to recover them from other states. by the clause prohibiting slavery?—7. What other difficult subject is next mentioned as pressing upon Congress? What measures did Texas take in 1849 ? What was done on the part of New Mexico?-8. What here is said of the Mormons ! terfere. Jan. 16. Senator Foote introduces a bill for ernment the gov of Deseret -i. e. Utah. († 1950. Census estimate, 25,000. 398 DANGER NOBLY MET. PT IV. P'D IV. CHAPTER IV. Congressional Eloquence of the First Session of the Thirty-first 1. THE first session of the thirty-first congress was the longest, the most stormy, and the most important in its results, of any since the organization of the 1849 government; and in it, by the strife and power of -50. words, were settled more important issues than those gress ench on any battle-field since the Revolution. The senate two years. took the lead. Never had that body presented more have been able statesmen, or more powerful orators. 'One Con There 61 from the adop tion of the federal tion.) 2. The two first northern senators who broke in fed upon the sullen gloom of uncharitableness and discontent, with which the southern members met the northern, were DICKINSON of New York, and PHELPS of Vermont. The former, in the course of his speech, solemnly assured his southern brethren that the north, as a body, regarded the guaranties of the constitution as sacred. "Sir," said he, "take a small number out of the northern and also out of the southern sections of the Union, or silence their clamor, and this accursed Mr. Dick- agitation would be settled in less than a week. speech. The constitution throws its broad ægis over the whole 1850. Jan. 17. of this mighty republic. Its people bow before it with more than eastern devotion. They will adhere to this Union; and although the northern people are opposed to the institution of slavery, the great mass of them have no intention or disposition to trench upon constitutional rights. And this they will prove to the south, should the occasion arise, even though they should sell their lives in her defence." 3. In the speech of Senator Phelps, 23d January, logical argument was complacently mingled with CHAPTER IV.-1. Why was this called the 31st Congress? (See side note.) What is said of the first session of this Congress-2. Give some accourt of the speech of Senator Dickin sou 1-3. Of that of Senator Phelps?-4. What occurred on the MR. CLAY'S COMPROMISE RESOLUTIONS. 399 Jan. 23. Mr. an original vein of wit. Without taking serious ground PT IV. against the southern threat of secession, he showed that F'D IV. the time had not yet come. The supreme judiciary of CH. IV. the United States were the proper court to try consti- 1850. tutional questions; and unless the south, before pro- Speech of ceeding to action, appealed to that tribunal, she would Phelps. put herself in the wrong. In so important a matter, she should not be in too much haste, but take the proper steps, and bide her time. As to what had been offensively said at the north, this was a land of free speech; and what was to be done with people who believed themselves charged with a mission, not only to amend the constitution framed by the wisdom of our fathers, but also to assist the Almighty in the correction of sundry mistakes which they had discovered in his works? The brows of the southern members unbent, and they cordially greeted the orator when the speech was ended; and an observer remarked, "He has thrown the first bucket of water which has reached the fire." 4. On the 25th of January, Mr. CLAY offered his memorable plan of compromise. On the 5th of February, amidst such a crowd of both sexes as the senate-chamber had never before witnessed, he came forward to speak in their defence. He was now venerable in years, but his intellect retained its soundness, and his heart its deep well-spring of patriotic feeling. His voice, his eye, his grace of action and gift of words, which made him regarded as the first orator who speaks the English tongue, were yet preserved, that he might succor, and perhaps save, his country, in this her hour of peril. In the preamble of his eight resolutions, he stated the reason of their introduction to be, that it was "for the peace, harmony, and concord of the Union to settle, and adjust amicably, all exciting questions of controversy between them arising out of the institution of slavery, upɔn a fair, equitable, and just basis." The compromise was 25th of January, 1850? On the 5th of February? What is said of Mr. Clay's powers as an orator? What was the object Mr. 4 Jan. 25 eight compro. mise rese lutus |