Such a
war of words and a battle of great minds! Many eyes were turned to the
clock as it drew near the hour of midnight. Would the stroke of twelve
dissolve the meeting and the great government of the United States be
left without funds?
To many of the senators this seemed a certainty, but Mr. Webster
insisted that Congress could not end while they remained in session. So,
through the long night, the struggle went on. About four o'clock the
amendment in regard to slavery was withdrawn, and the bill for the
government money was passed.
Meantime the American settlers in California were extremely
dissatisfied. To be living without suitable laws was an unnatural and
dangerous state of affairs which could not be tolerated by men who loved
their country and their homes. The Spanish Californians, also, were
anxious to know what they had to expect from the laws of the United
States. At last it was decided by the people, and agreed to by the
military governor, Riley, who was a man of good judgment, that delegates
should be chosen to a convention which should arrange a state
constitution and government.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206