highly advantageous to the United States. Mexico gave up her claims upon Texas, and sold to the United States the two provinces of New Mexico and California, then occupied by American troops, for the sum of fifteen million dollars; this country assuming, in addition, debts due from Mexico to United States citizens amounting to about three million dollars. In 1853, to settle a dispute about the boundary, this country paid Mexico ten million dollars for a tract south of New Mexico of forty-five thousand five hundred and thirty-five square milés in extent. The latter treaty was negotiated by James Gadsden, and the tract has since been known as the Gadsden Purchase. In all more than five hundred and ninety thousand square miles were added to the territory of the United States as a result of the war. Including Texas, the additions of territory were more than nine hundred and sixty-five thousand square miles. The Wilmot Proviso.-Conquest in the war with Mexico was fully expected to be followed by the acquisition of territory. Whether this territory should be open to the extension of slavery became an important question. Two new States were admitted during the Polk administration, Iowa in 1846, and Wisconsin in 1848. This made the number of free and slave States equal. But the South knew that this equality could not long be maintained, and though the new territory was not acquired until 1848, an appropriation was asked for its purchase early in the war. This alarmed the anti-slavery members of Congress, who feared it would be opened to slavery, and in 1846, David Wilmot, a Democratic member from Pennsylvania, offered an amendment to the appropriation bill, providing that slavery should be prohibited in the territory likely to be acquired from Mexico. This amendment, which became famous as the "Wilmot Proviso," excited a heated debate in Congress. It aroused passionate feeling in both parties. It was defeated by a small majority, but is of historical importance as an incident in the slavery contest, which was soon to become so active. The growing anti-slavery sentiment in the North was now amply represented in Congress, and was to become the leading feature in legislation for the next fifteen years. The Sub-Treasury System.-The system of government treasuries, established in the Van Buren administration, had been abolished by the Whigs in 1841, and the government had again been forced to deposit its funds in private banks. In 1846 a new and improved sub-treasury system was adopted. This system is still in force. In the same year a new tariff bill was passed, reducing the duties. It was based on the principle of tariff for revenue only, and continued in effect until 1861. Gold in California.-The new country purchased from Mexico proved to be immensely more valuable than any one had dreamed. It contained vast stores of gold and silver, of which the Spaniards, during their period of occupancy, had found little trace. The Americans were not long in making the discovery. Just before the treaty of peace was signed (January, 1848) a workman engaged in digging a mill-race in the Sacramento Valley discovered in its gravel deposits shining particles of gold. The news spread rapidly. The search was extended far around, and gold was found to be abundant. "Gold was everywhere,—in the soil, in the river sand, in the mountain rock." San Francisco at that time contained about four hundred inhabitants. When the news reached this town it was deserted, the excited populace starting in haste for the mines. Only one thought existed in California, to dig a fortune from the gold-strewn soil. The "Gold Fever."-When tidings of the discovery reached the East a rapid emigration to California began. From all parts of the United States and from Europe men hastened to the golden fields. Some crossed the continent, some made their way across the Isthmus of Panama, some sailed around Cape Horn. Many died on the Isthmus route. Many perished in the long journey over the plains, where the line of march was indicated by the skeletons of animals. But thousands reached California, whose population rapidly increased. The growth of San Francisco was a marvel. In a short time its population rose to twenty thousand, while a far greater number had flocked to the mining region. The Vigilance Committees.-Bad men as well as good sought the land of gold. Of those that settled in San Francisco, many sought to grow rich by robbing the miners through gambling and other devices. The town swarmed with reckless and lawless adventurers. Thieves and reprobates abounded. The trouble soon grew so serious that the respectable people were obliged to take the law into their own hands. They formed themselves into what were called "vigilance committees," for the purpose of suppressing crime. The justice administered was rude but prompt. Villains were hung with little ceremony, and the community soon became law-abiding. The Progress of California.-The people of California applied in 1849 for admission to the Union, under a constitution that prohibited slavery. Admission was granted in 1850. Within seven years from the discovery of gold nearly five hundred million dollars' worth had been obtained. As the gold to be had from the sands gave out, and costly operations upon the rocks were required, many men turned their attention to agriculture, and found in the grain-fields, vineyards, and orchards a richer source of wealth than in the mines. To-day California is one of the most productive States in the Union. The Free-Soil Party.-The succeeding Presidential election found a new party in the field. The failure of the Wilmot Proviso had alarmed the opponents of the extension of slavery, and what was called the "Free-Soil" party arose. It declared for "free soil for a free people." It did not propose to interfere with slavery in existing States, but opposed its establishment in the Territories and new States. The Election of 1848.-The Free-Soil party nominated Martin Van Buren for President and Charles Francis Adams for Vice-President. The Democratic party, having declared that Congress had no power to interfere with slavery, nominated Lewis Cass and William D. Butler. The Whigs avoided the slavery dispute, and chose as their candidate the popular hero of the Mexican War, General Zachary Taylor. For Vice-President Millard Fillmore was nominated. General Taylor proved to be the successful candidate. He received one hundred and sixty-three votes to one hundred and twenty-seven for Cass. Van Buren received no electoral votes. 2. The Taylor' and Fillmore' Administrations. The Slavery Problem.-With the new administration came in new and important questions. These were based on the controversy concerning the extension of slavery into the territory acquired from Mexico, which had been started by the Wilmot Proviso and still largely occupied men's minds. Texas claimed that her western boundary followed the Rio Grande to its source. This took in territory which had never been part of Texas, but the claim was strongly pushed, and was widely supported in the South. Should California be admitted as a free State? If New Mexico and Utah were formed into Territories, should slavery exist within their borders? ZACHARY TAYLOR. 1 Zachary Taylor was born in Virginia in 1784, his parents soon after removing to Kentucky. He received little education, and worked hard till the age of twenty-four, when he obtained an appointment in the army as lieutenant. He served in the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk and Seminole Wars, rising in rank till he became a major-general. He gained a high reputation in the Mexican War, energy and readiness winning him the title of "Old Rough and Ready." He was opposed by many Whigs as a slave-holder (though he did not favor the extension of slavery) and as one who knew nothing of civil affairs. Yet he filled the Presidential office acceptably, dying in office July 9, 1850. 2 Millard Fillmore was born in New York in 1800. He taught school, practised law, and became a member of the New York assembly and of Congress. When nominated for Vice-President he was comptroller of the State of New York. He was esteemed for ability and integrity, but lost popularity in the North from signing the Fugitive Slave bill. He was nominated for the Presidency by the American party in 1856, and died in 1874. |