Peter H. Burnet was elected governor of the Territory; representatives were chosen; and on the 20th of December, the new government was organized at San Jose.

3. When the question of admitting California came before Congress the members were sectionally divided. The admission of the new State was favored by the representatives of the North and opposed by those of the South. The latter claimed that with the extension of the Missouri Compromise to the Pacific the right to introduce slavery into California was guaranteed by the general government, and that therefore the proposed constitution of the State ought to be rejected. The reply of the North was that the Missouri Compromise had respect only to the Louisiana purchase, and that the Californians had framed their constitution in their own way.

4. Other questions added fuel to the controversy. Texas claimed New Mexico as a part of her territory, and the claim was resisted by the people of Santa Fé. The people of the South complained that fugitive slaves were aided and encouraged in the North. The opponents of slavery demanded the abolition of the slave-trade in the District of Columbia.

5. Henry Clay appeared as a peacemaker. On the 9th of May, 1850, he brought forward, as a compromise, THE OMNIBUS BILL, of which the provisions were as follows: First, the admission of California as a free State; second, the formation of new States, not exceeding four in number, out of Texas, said States to permit or exclude slavery as the people should determine; third, the organization of territorial governments for New Mexico and Utah, without conditions as to slavery; fourth, the establishment of the present boundary between Texas and New Mexico; fifth, the enactment of a stringent law for the recovery of fugitive slaves; sixth, the abolition of the slave-trade in the District of Columbia.

6. When the Omnibus Bill was laid before Congress, the debates broke out anew. While the discussion was at its height, President Taylor fell sick, and died on the 9th of July, 1850. Mr. Fillmore at once took the oath of office and entered upon the duties of the presidency. A new cabinet was formed, with Daniel Webster at the head as secretary of state.

7. On the 18th of September, the compromise proposed by Mr. Clay was adopted, and received the sanction of the President. The

excitement in the

country rapidly abated, and the controversy seemed at an end. Shortly afterward Mr. Clay bade adieu to the Senate, and sought at Ashland a brief rest from the cares of public life.

8. The year 1850 was marked

by an attempt of some American adventurers to

anxious to annex themselves to the United States. General Lopez organized an expedition in the South, and on the 19th of May, 1850, effected a landing at Cardenas, a port of Cuba. But there was no uprising in his favor; and he was obliged to return to Florida. Renewing the attempt in the following year, he and his band were defeated and captured by the Spaniards. Lopez and the ringleaders were taken to Havana and executed.

9. In 1852 a serious trouble arose with England. By the terms of former treaties the coast-fisheries of Newfoundland belonged to Great Britain. But outside of a line drawn three miles from the shore American fishermen enjoyed equal rights. A quarrel now arose as to how the line should be drawn across the bays and inlets; and both nations sent men-of-war to the contested waters. But reason triumphed over passion, and in 1854 the difficulty was settled happily

by negotiation; and the right to take fish in the bays of the British possessions was conceded to American fishermen.

10. During the summer of 1852, the Hungarian patriot Louis Kossuth made the tour of the United States. He came to plead the cause of Hungary before the American people, and was everywhere received

with expressions of sympathy and good-will. But the policy of the United States

forbade the government to interfere on behalf of the Hungarian patriots.

11. The attention of the American people was next directed to explorations in the Arctic Ocean. In 1845 Sir John Franklin, a brave English seaman, went on a voyage of discovery to the North.

JOHN C. CALHOUN.

Years went by, and no tidings came from the daring sailor. Other expeditions were sent in search, but returned without success. Henry Grinnell, of New York, despatched a fleet to the North, under command of Lieutenant De Haven. In 1853 an Arctic squadron was equipped, the command of which was given to Dr. Elisha Kent Kane; but the expedition returned without the discovery of Franklin.

12. During the administrations of Taylor and Fillmore, many distinguished men fell by the hand of death. On the 31st of

March, 1850, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina passed away. At the age of sixty-eight he fell from his place like a scarred oak of the forest never to rise again. His death was much lamented, especially in his own State, to whose interests he had devoted the energies of his life. Then followed the death of the President; and then, on the 28th of June, 1852, the great Henry Clay sank to rest. On the 24th of the following October, Daniel Webster died at his home at Marshfield, Massachusetts. The office of secretary of state was then conferred on Edward Everett.

13. The political parties again marshaled their forces. Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire appeared as the candidate of the Democratic party, and General Winfield Scott as the choice of the Whigs. The question at issue before the country was the Compromise Act of 1850. Both the Whig and Democratic platforms stoutly reäffirmed the doctrines of the Omnibus Bill. A third party arose, however, whose members declared that all the Territories of the United States ought to be free. John P. Hale of New Hampshire was put forward as the candidate of this Free Soil party. Mr. Pierce was elected by a large majority, and William R. King of Alabama was chosen Vice-President.

RECAPITULATION.

Sketch of the chief magistrate.-The question of slavery in California.-A territorial government is organized.—The controversy in Congress.-Other political vexations.-Clay as a peacemaker.-Passage of the Omnibus Bill.-And its provisions.-Death of the President.-The slavery excitement subsides.-Retirement of Mr. Clay.-The Cuban expedition is organized.--Lopez and his associates are executed.-The difficulty about the coast fisheries is settled by a treaty.-The tour of Kossuth.-Arctic expeditions of Franklin, De Haven, and Kane.-Death of Calhoun, Clay, and Webster.-The candidates for the presidency.-Pierce is elected

THE

CHAPTER LVII.

PIERCE'S ADMINISTRATION, 1853-1857.

new chief magistrate was a native of New Hampshire, a graduate of Bowdoin College, and a statesman of considerable abilities. On account of ill health, Mr. King, the Vice-President, was sojourning in Cuba. Growing more feeble, he returned to Alabama, where he died in April, 1853. As secretary of state, William L. Marcy of New York was chosen.

2. In 1853 a corps of engineers was sent out to explore the route for A PACIFIC RAILROAD. The enterprise was at first regarded as visionary and impossible. In the same year, the boundary between New Mexico and Chihuahua was satisfactorily settled. The difficulty was adjusted by the purchase of the claim of Mexico. The territory thus acquired is known as THE GADSDEN PURCHASE.

3. In the same year intercourse was opened between the United States and Japan. Hitherto the Japanese ports had been closed against the vessels of Christian nations. In order to remove this restriction, Commodore Perry sailed into the Bay of Yeddo. He explained to the Japanese officers the desire of the United States to enter into a treaty. On the 14th of July, the commodore obtained an audience with the emperor, and presented a letter from the President. In the next spring, a treaty was concluded; and the privileges of commerce were granted to American merchantmen.

4. On the very day of Perry's introduction to the emperor, the Crystal Palace was opened in New York for the WORLD'S FAIR. The palace was built of iron and glass. Specimens of the arts and manufactures of all nations were put on exhibition within the building. The enterprise and genius of the whole country were quickened into new life by the beautiful and instructive display.

5. In January of 1854, Senator Douglas of Illinois brought for