men, and took part in the battle of San Gabriel [gah'-bre-el] (January 8th, 1847), which completed the establishment of American power in California. Never before was so extensive a country subjugated by so small a force.

580. Soon after Kearney left Santa Fé, Col. Doniphan by his command set out with nearly 1,000 Missourians for the country of the Navajo [nah-var-ho] Indians, from whom hostilities were apprehended. They were induced to make a treaty of peace; and Doniphan then turned to the southeast, traversed extensive deserts, in which his men nearly sunk from want of food and water, defeated an army of Mexicans more than four times as large as his own, entered the city of Chihuahua [che-whah'-whah], and took formal possession of the province of which it was the capital, in the name of the United States. Towards the close of May, he effected a junction with Gen. Wool at Saltillo; and shortly afterwards, the time of his men having expired, he led them back to New Orleans. They had marched 2,000 miles, and encountered adventures and hardships which seemed almost like the inventions of romance.

581. After his defeat by Gen. Lane, Santa Anna, deserted by his troops, fled to the coast and thence to the West Indies. The Americans being everywhere victorious, the Mexican government no longer refused to come to terms. On the 2nd of February, 1848, a treaty was signed at Guadaloupe Hidalgo [gwah-dah-loo'-pā he-dahl'-go]; by which Mexico relinquished to the United States the territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande, together with the whole of New Mexico and California; the United States agreeing on its part to pay for this extensive region $15,000,000, and to assume debts due from Mexico to American citizens to the amount of $3,500,000. This treaty having been ratified by both governments, peace was proclaimed by President Polk on the 4th of July, 1848.

Kearney's movements on receiving this intelligence? In what battle did he take part? 580. Give an account of Doniphan's expedition. Towards the close of May, whom did be join? Where did he then lead his men ? What is said of their march and adventures? 581. What became of Santa Anna? What change took place in the feelings of the Mexican government? When and where was a treaty signed? What were its con

1848]

DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA.

443

582. California, from the time of its conquest, increased rapidly in population, numerous emigrants finding their way thither from the other side of the Rocky Mountains. In March, 1848, when it was formally ceded to the U. S., it was estimated to contain 33,000 inhabitants. The following June, a discovery was made, which produced momentous changes in the condition of California, and made itself felt throughout the world. A laborer in the employ of Captain Sutter, a Swiss who had settled in the valley of the Sacramento, found in the sand some glittering particles, which turned out to be gold. Similar discoveries were soon made in other places in the neighborhood. An excitement which transcends description seized on the inhabitants; forsaking their farms and shutting up their houses, they flocked to the fortunate spot. The news soon reached the Atlantic States. Hundreds at once set out for the land of gold; and not from the United States only, but from all parts of Europe, and

ditions? When was peace proclaimed? 582. What is said of California, from the time of its conquest? What discovery was made in June, 1848? Describe the excitement

even from far-distant China, did the tide of immigration flow, men of every grade in society giving themselves up to its current. Within two years from the date of the discovery, San Francisco had grown from an insignificant village of a few miserable huts to a flourishing city containing 15,000 souls. Hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of the precious metal have been dug from the earth, nor is the hidden treasure yet exhausted.

583. On the 23rd of February, 1848, ex-president John Quincy Adams, who from 1831 had served his native state in the house of representatives, died of paralysis, with which he had been struck two days before while in his seat attending to his official duties. His dying words were, "This is the last of earth! I am content!" A life devoted almost wholly to the service of his country gave him strong claims on her gratitude, and the highest honors were paid to his memory.

584. Wisconsin, which had been formed into a territory in 1836, was admitted into the Union as a state in 1848. In March, 1849, Minnesota Territory was organized.

585. The probability that the war with Mexico would result in the acquisition of extensive territory on the southwest, early led to a re-agitation of the slavery question. In 1846, David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, introduced into Congress a proposition, called from him the Wilmot Proviso, that slavery should be prohibited in all territory that might be acquired by treaty. This proviso failed to receive the sanction of Congress; and, the question being thrown before the country for discussion, a party holding the views advocated by Mr. Wilmot was organized. They took the name of Free Soilers, and in June, 1848, nominated Martin Van Buren as their candidate for the presidency. The democrats brought forward Gen. Lewis Cass, of Michigan; the whigs, Gen. Taylor, whose brilliant victories in the Mexican

that followed. Whence did immigrants pour in? What is said of the growth of San Francisco? What is said of the yield of gold? 583. Give an account of the death of John Quincy Adams. 584. When was Wisconsin made a territory? When, a state? What territory was organized in 1849? 585. Soon after the commencement of the war, what question began to be re-agitated? What was the Wilmot Proviso? What was its fate? What party was soon after organized? Whom did they nominate for the

1849]

GENERAL TAYLOR BECOMES PRESIDENT.

445

War had made him a decided favorite with the nation. Taylor was elected, and with him Millard Fillmore, of New York, as vice-president. Mr. Polk resigned the country into the hands of his successor on the 4th of March, 1849, and returned to his home at Nashville, Tennessee, where he died the following June, at the age of 54, esteemed and lamented by men of all parties.

CHAPTER XIV.

ADMINISTRATION OF TAYLOR AND FILLMORE, 1849-1853.

586. ZACHARY TAYLOR was born in Virginia on the 24th of November, 1784. The following year his father emigrated to Kentucky, and his youth was passed amid the dangers and privations of frontier life. He was brought up a farmer, but in 1808 gave up this vocation for a military life, having received a commission in the army from President Jefferson. The war of 1812 brought him into active service, and he distinguished himself in the northwest, particularly in the defence of Fort Harrison against the Indians. His services in the Seminole War and subsequently in Mexico have been already noticed.

Millard Fillmore was born in 1800 in Cayuga county, N. Y. He was apprenticed in early life to a wool-carder; but his superior talents attracted the attention of a prominent lawyer of Cayuga, in whose office he commenced in 1819 a course of legal study. On being admitted to the practice of law, he rapidly rose to distinction. After serving in the legislature and in Congress, he ran in 1844 for the office of governor of New York, but was defeated. Standing high in the confidence of the whigs, he was placed on the same ticket with Taylor, and with him took the oath of office on the 5th of March, 1849.

presidency? Whom did the democrats and whigs nominate? Who was elected? What is said of the death of Mr. Polk?

596. Give an account of Taylor's early life. Of Fillmore's. When did they take the

587. Gen. Taylor appointed John M. Clayton, of Delaware, secretary of state. He was the first president whose cabinet contained a Secretary of the Interior. This new department was created just before the close of Polk's term, to relieve the secretary of the treasury and his subordinates of some of their multifarious duties.

588. So rapidly did California increase in population that in 1849 its people took measures for admission into the Union as a state, and adopted a constitution with a clause prohibiting slavery. The introduction of their petition into the thirty-first Congress kindled an intense excitement and convulsed the whole country. Part of the territory in question was south of the dividing line established by the Missouri Compromise, and southern senators declared that the prohibition of slavery there would be followed by the immediate dissolution of the Union. Other questions arose to complicate this main issue, and it seemed as if human wis dom would be incompetent to settle the momentous points in dispute satisfactorily to the conflicting interests concerned. Never since its formation was the Union in such danger. At this crisis, when every friend of his country trembled for the result, Henry Clay, again appearing as a peacemaker between excited sections, brought before the senate a series of resolutions covering the whole ground at issue. With all that glowing eloquence which placed him among the greatest of modern orators, he urged the necessity of mutual concession and compromise, and called on extreme men on both sides to forbear from overthrowing the glorious fabric which had been cemented by the blood of their fathers.

A committee of thirteen, of which Mr. Clay was chairman, was finally appointed to consider the whole subject. In May, 1850, this committee presented an elaborate report, which, in the spirit of Clay's resolutions, recommended an act that settied all the points at issue. The leading provisions of this

oath of office? 587. Who was appointed secretary of state? What new cabinet officer did Taylor appoint? 588. What question now arose to excite Congress and the whole country? What did southern senators declare? Describe the state of feeling. Who attempted to settle the difficulty? What was Clay's course? To whom was the whole subject referred by the senate? When did this committee report? What name was