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Mexico, and South America, rushed thither, with a greedy desire to secure a share of the newly discovered treasure.

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8. The scenes which followed are not easily described. San Francis'-co, originally called Yer'-ba Bue'-na, and which in 1848 was a small village, rapidly grew up into a large city, and though several times desolated by fire, as rapidly revived from its ashes, and now contains nearly one hundred thousand inhabitants. Other towns sprung up like magic. At the present time, 1866, the state is computed to have a population of six hundred thousand. The gold annually obtained from all the mines of California is estimated at from seventy to eighty millions of dollars!

9. The people of California, suddenly gathered from many countries. were for a time without any formal or effective government. The ne cessity of protection to life and property soon became apparent, and ac cordingly, in the autumn of 1849, a convention met and formed a con titution, which was speedily adopted by the people.

7. What was the effect of the gold discovery in California? 8. What of San Francisco! Other towns in California? What is the value of the gold annually obtained from Califor nia? 9. What of California as to its government? When was the state constitution formed? *The great fire of May 4th, 1850, at San Francisco, destroyed nearly the entire city, which at that time consisted mostly of slight wooden tenements. The amount of property destroyed was estimated at four millions of dollars. Many of the edifices of Sap Francisco are now of brick and stone, and rival in splendor those of our Atlantic cities

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TAYLOR'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.-The Compromise Measures, or Omnibus Bill.-Henry Clay-Death of President Taylor.-Death of John C. Calhoun.

1. A PERIOD of great agitation was now at hand. California had petitioned for admission into the Union, and as her constitution prohibited slavery, many of the Southern politicians in Congress, made the most vigorous opposition to granting her request.*

2. Various other questions connected with this seemed to compli

CHAP. CCXI.-1. What of the petition of California for admission into the Union? *By the Missouri Compromise-that is, a compromise made in Congress at the time of the admission of Missouri-it was stipulated that slavery should not exist north of latitude 36.30: implying, of course, that it might exist south of that line. As a portion

of California was south of 36.30, it was contended by the southern statesmen, that the Imission of California, with a constitution prohibiting slavery, would be a violation of the compromise.

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cate and increase the difficulty; in Congress a state of almost unexampled excitement, indeed, existed, and many persons were under the gloomy apprehension that the Union was speedily to be dissolved. In this state of things, Henry Clay, who had so often appeared in times of difficulty and danger, to assuage the storm, in connection with other eminent senators, introduced the " Compromise Measures of 1850," popularly called the Omnibus Bill.

3. This contained the following propositions: First, That, according to the agreement made on the adoption of Texas, five new states, formed of her territory, might be admitted, with or without slavery as the people should choose; Second, That California should become a free state, according to her constitution; Third, That a territorial government should be established for New Mexico and U'-tah without any stipulation on the subject of slavery; Fourth, That Texas should surrender

2. How was the difficulty increased? What of Congress? What of Henry Clay at this time? What bill did he introduce? 8. What propositions did the Omnibus Bill contain?

all chims to New Mexico, on condition of ten millions of dollars to be paid by the government of the United States; Fifth, That a more efficient law for the recovery of fugitive slaves should be passed; and, Sixth, That the slave-trade should be prohibited in the District of Columbia.

4. The number and variety of these several propositions, serve to show the extent of the difficulties to be overcome, and the different feelings and interests to be consulted. All these propositions, intro duced as separate provisions, were finally adopted, but after a most ex-eiting and protracted debate in Congress. The last of these bills passed September 18th, 1850.

5. But before this final result had been obtained, President Taylor had breathed his last; he died on the 9th of July, 1850, from overexertion on the celebration of the 4th. He had spent the greater part of his life in the camp, and as he had been a successful soldier, so he was also a good man, and a true patriot. President Polk, his predecessor in office, had led the way to the tomb, having died at his residence in Nashville, June 15th, 1849.

6. A few months previous to the death of President Taylor, John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, who had filled with great distinction several high offices, had died at Washington—that is, on the 31st of March, 1850. His last public services were rendered in seeking to effect the passage of the several bills of which we have just spoken. He was a inan of great abilities, high integrity, and the utmost dignity as well as suavity of manners. He was for many years the acknowledged champion of the Southern states, in respect to slavery, state rights, nullification, etc.

4. What do the number and variety of these propositions prove? How did these pass in Congress? When did the last pass? 5. What of the death of President Taylor? baracter? What of Ex-president Polk? 6. What of Mr. Calhoun?

His

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FILLMORE'S ADMINISTRATION, FROM JULY 10TH, 1850, TO MARCH 4TH, 1853.-His Accession.-Signing of the Omnibus Bills.-Lopez and the Cuban Fillibusters.The Cheap-Postage Laws.-Laying the Corner-Stone of the Capitol Extension at Washington.-Kossuth in America.

1. THE day after the death of President Taylor, Mr. Fillmore, vicepresident, took the oath of office and entered upon the duties of the presidency. One of the first and most important duties which deolved upon him was, to approve the several bills, which we have just described, relating to the admission of California, the organization of the territory of New Mexico, etc., and which, as we have said, received the general name of "The Compromise Measures of 1850."

CHAP. CCXII.-1. Who became president on the death of Taylor? What was one of the first and most important of Fillmore's duties?

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