In the summer of 1848 the President, in a special message, called the
attention of Congress to California and asked that the laws of a
territory be granted to it. The South agreed, provided half should be
slave territory. The Northern people, who disliked slavery, had no
commercial interest in it, and felt it a disgrace to the nation,
resisted this demand. Then began a bitter struggle over California and
the question of slavery on her soil, which lasted for two years and
called forth some of the grandest speeches of those mighty leaders,
Webster, Clay, and Calhoun.
In 1849, while this fight in Congress was still going on, an amendment
to tax California for revenue, and another which would result in making
her a slave state, were added to the regular appropriation bill which
provided for the expenses of government and without which the government
would stop. Congress was supposed to close its session on Saturday,
March 3d, at midnight. The new President, Taylor, was to take office on
Monday.
There had been many times of excitement in that Senate chamber, but this
night, it is said by those who were present, was equal to any.
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