preme Court, and one of the most able of American jurists, died, aged 66. Dec. 15-A resolution offered by Mr. Cass, in the United States Senate, and a speech made by him, caused much excitement, as they portended a war with England about the boundary line between Oregon and the northwestern British possessions. It was this originated the Democratic saying, "54°

40' or fight." "24-Texas admitted into the Union as a State, making the twenty-eighth.

"28-Iowa, having complied with the conditions imposed upon her by an act of March 3, 1845, was now fully admitted into the Union, making the twenty-ninth State.

1846.

March 28-The American army, 3,500 strong, under Gen. Z. Taylor, post themselves on the Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras. The Mexicans regarded this as an invasion of their territory, and was the immediate cause of the Mexican war. April 24-Hostilities commence between the U. S. and Mexico. 26-First battle, when the Mexicans made an attack on sixtythree United States dragoons, Capt. Thornton, who surrendered, with a loss of 16 men.

May 8-Battle of Palo Alto, with 6,000 Mexicans against 2,300 Americans under Gen. Taylor. Mexicans whipped, with a loss of 100 men killed. Americans, 4 killed and 40 wounded. Major Ringgold was killed at this battle.

"9-Battle of Resaca de la Palma. The Mexicans again defeated, and their general (La Vega) taken prisoner. Gen. Taylor commanded the U. S. forces.

"12-Congress passed an act declaring that war existed between the United States and Mexico, by the act of Mexico.

Au

thorized the raising of 50,000 troops, and voted $10,000,000 to carry on the war.

"13-President Polk issued a proclamation that war existed with Mexico.

July 6-Com. Sloat, of the United States navy, took Monterey, on the coast of California, and issued a proclamation that that country was annexed to the United States.

In the same month Com. Stockton took San Diego from the
Mexicans.

"9-Congress retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, back to Virginia.

"17-The treaty between the United States and England respecting the boundary line between Oregon and the English possessions in North America, was ratified in London. 22-Congress authorized the issue of $10,000,000 treasury notes. By this means the loan above mentioned was raised.

July 30-Congress pass a new tariff, reducing the duties on imported goods. This is known as the tariff of 1846.

Aug. 3 President Polk vetoed the river and harbor bill, on the ground that it was unconstitutional, and that the money was wanted to carry on the Mexican war.

48-He also vetoed the French spoliation bill, on the ground that it had not been sufficiently considered, and that the money could not be spared in time of war.

"18-Gen. Kearney took peaceable possession of Santa Fe, in Mexico, and issued a proclamation absolving the Mexicans from their allegiance to the Mexican government.

"19-Com. Stockton declared all the Mexican ports, south of San Diego, in a state of blockade.

"22-The whole of California was at this time in the military possession of the United States.

Sept. 21, 22, 23, 24-Battle of Monterey between 4,700 United States troops, under Gen. Taylor, and 10,000 Mexicans, under Gen. Ampudia. On the 24th an armistice of eight weeks was agreed to, when the Mexicans surrendered the city.

Oct. 25-Tobasco was bombarded by the Gulf squadron, under Com. Perry, and all the Mexican vessels in the port were captured or destroyed.

Nov. 14—Com. Connor took peaceable possession of the Mexican seaport, Tampico.

Dec. 8 The United States brig Somers was capsized by a squall off Vera Cruz, and sank in ten minutes, with a loss of two officers and thirty-nine men.

"25-Battle of Brazito, near El Passo, between 450 Americans, under Col. Doniphan, and a body of Mexican cavalry, who were defeated.

1847.

Jan. 8-The Mexican Congress voted to raise $15,000,000 for the war against the United States, by a mortgage upon or the sale of the property of the clergy.

Feb. 23-Battle of Buena Vista, with 4,759 United States troops, under Gen. Taylor, and from 17,000 to 22,000 Mexicans, under Gen. Santa Anna, who was defeated, with a loss of 1,500 men. United States loss, 756.

23-On this day, ex-President John Quincy Adams died at Washington.

March 1-Gen. Kearney, by proclamation, absolved the people of California from their allegiance to Mexico, and regarded them as citizens of the United States.

3-Wisconsin admitted into the Union by act of Congress, which took effect on the 29th May, 1848, making the thirtieth State.

9-Gen. Scott landed with 12,000 men at Vera Cruz. On the

22d, 23d, 24th, 25th and 26th, he bombarded the city, which finally surrendered.

April 18-Battle of Cerro Gordo; United States forces under Gen. Twiggs, Mexican under Gen. Santa Anna, who was defeated

with a loss of 3,000 prisoners, 43 pieces of artillery, and 5,000 stand of arms.

Aug. 20-Cherubusco (near the city of Mexico) stormed and taken by Gen. Worth, with 9,000 troops, against a much superior force of Mexicans.

Sept. 8-Molino del Rey stormed and taken by Gen. Worth. 13-Chepultepec (near the city of Mexico) stormed and taken by the United States forces, under Gen. Scott; and on the 14th Sept. he took the city of Mexico. This ended the Mex

ican war. "17.-Gen. Scott imposed a contribution of $150,000 on the city of Mexico for the protection the United States army had given to the public property.

Dec. 31-The several Mexican States were assessed $3,000,000 for the support of the American army while it held the country.

1848.

Feb. 2-Treaty of peace agreed upon between the United States and Mexico at Guadaloupe Hidalgo, (a small city four miles from the city of Mexico.) By this treaty Mexico relinquished all claims to Texas, and ceded Upper California and New Mexico to the United States; in consideration of which the United States gave Mexico $15,000,000, and assumed Mexican debts owing to our citizens to the amount of $3,500,000. This treaty was subsequently ratified by the U. S. Senate, (March 10,) and by the Mexican government on the 20th May following.

March 31-Congress authorized a loan of $16,000,000, to pay Mexico. June 7-Gen. Zachary Taylor nominated at Philadelphia by a Whig convention, for President, and Millard Fillmore for Vice President.

"22-23-A convention of Democrats, dissatisfied with the nomination of Lewis Cass as the candidate of their party for President, met at Utica, N. Y., and nominated Martin Van Buren for that office. This was called the Free-Soil party, because they opposed the annexation of Texas.

Aug. 14-A Territorial government organized for Oregon. Nov. 17-According to the provisions of an act of Congress previously passed, all the States vote on the same day for President and Vice President. This was the sixteenth Presidential election, and resulted in the choice of Gen. Taylor, the Whig candidate.

1849.

Jan. 26—The ratification of the postal treaty with England exchanged at London.

March 3-Congress ordered gold dollars and double eagles to be coined.

A Territorial government organized for Minnesota 4-Gen. Taylor, the eleventh President, inaugurated. May 7-Gen. Worth, of the United States army, died.

Aug. 12-Albert Gallatin, a distinguished statesman, and Secretary of the Treasury under President Jefferson, died, aged 88. The people of California form a constitution, prohibiting slavery in the State, preparatory to admission into the Union.

Sept.

Dec. 31-The House of Representatives on the sixty-third ballot elected Howell Cobb, of Georgia, Speaker. His competitor was R. C. Winthrop, of Mass.

1850.

Jan. 21-The chiefs of the Seminole Indians (of Florida) met Gen. Twiggs in council, and agreed to abandon the country and move to the west of the Mississippi river.

Feb. 22-The original manuscript of Washington's farewell address sold in Philadelphia for $2,300.

July 9-President Taylor died, and Vice President Fillmore became acting President.

Aug. 3-Jacob Jones, an eminent naval officer, died, aged 82.
Sept. 9-California admitted into the Union, making the thirty-first
State.

9-Utah placed under a Territorial government.

"12-The fugitive slave law passed. This, to the northern States, was probably the most offensive act ever passed by Congress.

"20-The slave trade abolished in the District of Columbia by act of Congress.

The above last four acts nave ever since their passage been known as the "compromise measures of 1850."

Nov. 19-Richard M. Johnson, formerly Vice President, died.

1851.

March 3-By act of Congress, postage was reduced to three cents on all letters not weighing over half an ounce, and for all distances not exceeding 3,000 miles, if pre-paid; but to five cents if not pre-paid.

-John C. Calhoun, of S. Carolina, an eminent statesman, and once Vice President, died.

1852.

June 28-Henry Clay died.

July 3-A branch of the U. S. mint established at San Francisco, Cal., by act of Congress.

Oct. 24-Daniel Webster died.

Nov. -In this month the seventeenth Presidential election took place, which resulted in the choice of Franklin Pierce, the Democratic candidate, over General Scott, the Whig can didate.

1853.

March 2-Washington Territory cut off from the northern part o Oregon, and put under a Territorial government by act of Congress.

4-Franklin Pierce inaugurated the twelfth regular President. Aug. 11-President Pierce issued a proclamation warning citizens of the U. S. against connecting themselves with Lopez against the island of Cuba.

1854.

March 23—A treaty of commerce with Japan, negotiated by Com. Perry, of the United States navy.

May 19-John Davis, a Senator from Mass., an eminent orator and statesman, known by the name of “Honest John Davis," died.

"30-The Kansas and Nebraska bill passed in Congress. By this act these two Territories were organized under Territorial governments, and in the 14th section, the far-famed "Missouri compromise" act of 1820 was repealed, after it had been a law of the land for thirty-four years. This opened the old slavery discussion, and brought on the civil war in Kansas.

1855.

Feb. 24-The Court of Claims established in Washington, by act of Congress.

1856.

March 4-The free-State Legislature of Kansas, assembled at To

peka.

20-Com. Connor died.

May 18-John C. Spencer, Secretary of the Treasury under Pierce, died at Albany, N. Y.

31-John M. Niles, Postmaster General under Van Buren,

died.

Nov. —In this month the eighteenth_Presidential election_took place, resulting in the choice of James Buchanan, the Democratic candidate, against John C. Fremont, the Republican, and Millard Fillmore the American candidates.