Page:Life of Henry Clay (Schurz; v. 2).djvu/335

Rh to the formation of a sectional and Northern party, which will, sooner or later, take permanent and exclusive possession of the government.” These were the ideas Clay brought with him to Washington, in December, 1849.

The opening of the session was inauspicious. For three weeks a struggle about the speakership convulsed the House of Representatives. The slavery question formed the subject of furious debates, during which members almost came to blows. At last Cobb of Georgia was elected. President Taylor sent his message to Congress on December 24. As to the burning question, he simply announced the fact that the people of California, “impelled by the necessities of their political condition,” had framed a state constitution and would soon apply for admission as a state, and he recommended their wish to the favorable consideration of Congress. He expected the people of New Mexico would shortly take the same course, and hoped that, “by awaiting their action, all causes of uneasiness might be avoided, and confidence and kind feeling preserved.” In other words, California and New Mexico should be received without further question, even as Free States, if the people thereof so desired. In a special message of January 21, 1850, Taylor declared that he had favored prompt action by the people of the new territories, without attempting to exercise any influence as to what that action should be concerning slavery. He again urged as prompt as possi-