Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/436

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404 The Compromise of 1850. [i860 the duty of Congress to admit them in accordance with the compact made with Texas. 2. That California be admitted into the Union. 3. That territorial governments, without the Wilmot Proviso, be established in Utah and New Mexico. 4. That the two last measures be combined in the same bill. 5. That all New Mexico be taken from the jurisdiction of Texas ; that a pecuniary equivalent be given to Texas ; and that a section for this purpose be incorporated in the bill to admit California. 6. That a more effectual law for the return of fugitive slaves be enacted. 7. That the slave-trade, but not slavery, be prohibited in the District of Columbia. Bills to carry out these provisions had been prepared and were presented with the report. While these measures were stih 1 under discussion President Taylor died ; and Millard Fillmore was sworn into office as President. The old Cabinet at once resigned ; and Webster, as Secretary of State, took the lead of the new. After the funeral of Taylor, debate on the Com- promise Bills was resumed till July 31, when the Utah Bill passed. On August 9 a bill somewhat reducing the limits of New Mexico, and offering Texas $10,000,000 for surrendering her claim, was passed. On August 12 the California Bill passed ; on the 15th the New Mexico Bill ; and on the 26th the Fugitive Slave Bill. Action on the Bill to prohibit the Slave-trade in the District of Columbia, a distinctly Northern measure, was delayed in the Senate till the House should have acted on the measures already sent down to it. By September 12 all had passed the House ; and on the 16th the District of Columbia Bill was allowed to go through the Senate. The House of course approved ; the President signed each bill ; and the Compromise of 1850, from which so much was expected, was accomplished.