Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850, in the history of the United States, was a series of Congressional legislative measures addressing slavery and the boundaries of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War

Clay and Douglas craft compromise

Congress convened on December 3 1849. On January 29, 1850, 72-year old Whig Senator Henry Clay gave a speech which called for compromise on the issues dividing the Union. However, Clay's specific proposals for achieving a compromise, including his idea for Texas's boundary, were not adopted, although Clay later claimed credit for drafting the entire compromise. Rather, it was Senator Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat of Illinois, who largely guided the Compromise to passage. The Compromise came to coalesce around a plan dividing Texas at its present-day boundaries, creating territorial governments with "popular sovereignty" (i.e. without the Proviso) for New Mexico and Utah, admitting California as a free state, abolishing the slave auctions in the District of Columbia, and enacting a harsh new Fugitive Slave Law.

Related Topics:
December 3 - 1849 - January 29 - 1850 - Whig - Henry Clay - Stephen A. Douglas - Fugitive Slave Law

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View of Davis and Southern Democrats

Most Southerner Democrats, led by Jefferson Davis, opposed Douglas's and especially Clay's compromise because they would have admitted California as a free state, thus disturbing the balance of power between North and South in the Senate, and because they would have negated some of Texas's land claims. They also opposed as unconstitutional the abolition of the slave auctions in the District of Columbia.

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View of Seward and Northern Whigs

Most Northern Whigs, led by William Henry Seward, who delivered his (in)famous "Higher Law" speech during the controversy, opposed the Compromise as well because it would not have applied the Wilmot Proviso to the western territories and because of the Draconian new fugitive slave law, which would have pressed ordinary citizens into duty on slave-hunting patrols; this provision was inserted by Democratic Virginia Senator James M. Mason to coerce border-state Whigs, who faced the greatest danger of losing slaves as fugitives, but who were lukewarm on general sectional issues related to the South, into supporting Texas's land claims.

Related Topics:
William Henry Seward - James M. Mason

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Whig President Zachary Taylor attempted to sidestep the entire controversy by pushing to admit California and New Mexico as free states immediately, avoiding the entire territorial process and thus the Wilmot Proviso question. Taylor's stand was extremely unpopular among southerners.

Related Topics:
Whig - Zachary Taylor

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Northern Democrats and Southern Whigs largely supported the Compromise. Southern Whigs, many of whom were from the border states, supported the stronger fugitive slave law.

Related Topics:
Democrats - Whigs

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Debate and results

Former Vice President John C. Calhoun spoke on March 3 against the proposals. As he was near death, he had to be carried on and off of the floor by several senators, and the speech was read for him by Senator James M. Mason of Virginia. Calhoun died exactly four weeks later on March 31. Daniel Webster supported the plan in "Seventh of March" speech, although in doing so he alienated many of his former antislavery admirers.

Related Topics:
Vice President - John C. Calhoun - March 3 - James M. Mason - March 31 - Daniel Webster

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The bills were initially combined into one "omnibus" bill, which failed to pass the Senate. The situation was changed by the death of President Taylor and the accession of Millard Fillmore on July 6, 1850. The influence of the administration was now thrown in favor of the compromise. Under a tacit understanding of the moderates to vote together, five separate bills were passed, and were signed by the president between September 9 and September 20 1850.

Related Topics:
President Taylor - Millard Fillmore - July 6 - 1850 - September 9 - September 20

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