tive Slave Law," which provided for the return to their owners of slaves escaping to a free State, was passed. Dar iel Webster, a member of the United States Senate, contributed his aid in effecting this compromise, which, though it allayed the excitement between the two sections of the country, gave great offence to a large party in the North who were opposed to all concessions to the slave power. The 2. "The vast region known as Utah was then in the possession of the Indians and the Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints, a religious sect founded by Joseph Smith, a native of Vermont. In 1832, Smith had twelve hundred folMormons. lowers, when the whole sect removed to Missouri. As they professed to be the true saints, by virtue of which they were to become the inheritors of the western country, they became objects of distrust to the Missourians. The militia were called out, but the Mormons avoided a conflict by crossing the Mississippi to Illinois. They prepared to make that State their home. On a bluff, overlooking the Mississippi, they founded a city, Nauvoo (naw'-voo), and erected an imposing temple (1840). Thefts and robberies were numerous in the vicinity, and these crimes were attributed to the Mormons, some of whom were arrested. 3. At length the Prophet, Smith, and his brother Hyrum, were arrested and thrown into prison in the town of Carthage. A mob collected a few days after, and in the mêlée the brothers were slain. The spirit aroused against the Mormons was so violent that they could find safety alone in flight, and the following year they sold their possessions. left their beautiful city, which contained ten thousand inhabitants, and under chosen elders emigrated away across the plains and over the Rocky Mountains, and finally found a resting-place in the Great Basin (1844). As they were now upon the soil of Mexico, they hoped their troubles were at an end. They significantly called their new home, Deseret-the land of the Honey Bee; and, to recruit their numbers, they sent missionaries to every quarter of the globe. 1854 Repeal of the Missouri Compromise. 249 4. Meantime they labored with great zeal in founding a city on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. It is on ground four thousand three hundred feet above the level of the ocean, and planned on a large scale; its streets are eight rods wide, and every house is surrounded by a garden. Presently came the war with Mexico, and the ceding of all that region to the United States. The Mormons were the first to organize themselves as a territory, under the name of Deseret, but Congress saw proper to change the name to Utah. President Fillmore appointed Brigham Young, their leading elder, the first governor." Pierce's Administration. Repeal of the Missouri 1. Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, succeeded to the presidency on the 4th of March, 1853. The next year the agitation of the "slavery question" was again revived by the passage of a law by Congress organizing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. This law repealed the Missouri Compromise, which had ex- Compromise. cluded slavery from the entire region, and substituted what was called by some persons, "Squatter Sovereignty" or "Popular Sovereignty," that is, the right of the people in each territory to decide whether they would have slaves or not. The "Compromise of 1820" had been regarded as a sacred compact between the South and the North, and as such, for the third of a century had received the sanction of all parties. An intense excitement FRANKLIN PIERCE. was again produced, especially in the Northern States. 2. Now came the struggle again on the "slavery issue" between the North and the South, both making great exer. Civil war in Kansas. tions to send settlers to the new territory of Kansas. The South was first in the field, Missouri, a slave State, being near, and her citizens leading the way. But the North, resolute to win Kansas for freedom, poured a steady tide of emigration into the territory, and soon the Northern settlers outnumbered their competitors. Civil war ensued; for those in the minority would not submit to be outvoted, and the peaceful citizens were resolved to defend their rights. This state of things for a considerable time rendered Kansas a scene of lawlessness and bloodshed (see page 253). 3. "The acquisition of California made the importance of commercial treaties with the nations of eastern Asia more and more important. During Fillmore's term, Commodore Perry, Treaty brother of the hero of Lake Erie, was sent with a with Japan. squadron to open communication with the empire of Japan. The inhabitants of those islands from time immemorial had excluded foreigners. The authorities there were greatly astonished at the boldness of the commodore when he appeared with his steamers—the first that ever floated on those waters-in the bay of Jeddo (or Yedo, now Tokio). He was ordered to depart; but he declined, and insisted on seeing the proper authorities and making known to them the object of his friendly visit. 4. At length a Japanese officer appeared, who promised to lay the matter before the emperor. The 14th of July (1853), was the day named to receive the letter from the American President. The commodore, escorted by a company of marines, landed. He was received with the pomp of an oriental pageant, and an answer to the letter promised the following spring. The answer was duly received, and treaty concluded. The merchants of the United States ob tained permission to trade in two specified ports, and also for the residence of American citizens and consuls at the two ports, as well as to visit without molestation in the interior, ten or twelve miles" (185) 66 Washington's Administration. The adoption of Hamilton's financial measures; the war with the Indians north of the Ohio; the making of Jay's Treaty;" the admission of Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee into the Union; and the invention of the cotton-gin, were the principal events during this administration (1789-1797).* John Adams's. The hostilities with France, the death of Washington and the removal of the national capitol to the city of Washington (1797-1801). Jefferson's. The admission of Ohio into the Union, the purchase of the Louisiana territory, the war with the Barbary States the duel between Hamilton and Burr, the trial of Burr for treason, and Fulton's steamboat invention (1801-1809). Madison's. The second war with England-of which Hull's surrender of Detroit, Perry's victory on Lake Erie, Harrison's successes, Brown's invasion of Canada, MacDonough's victory on Lake Champlain, the capture by the British of the city of Washington, the British repulse before Baltimore, and Jackson's defense of New Orleans. were the principal events-marks this administration. The Hartford Convention, the war with Algiers, and the admission of Louisiana and Indiana into the Union, were also important (1809-1817). Monroe's. The Seminole war; the purchase of Florida; the admission of Mississippi, Illinois. Alabama, Maine, and Missouri into the Union; the adoption of the "Missouri Compromise;" and Lafayette's visit, were the important events (1817-1825). John Quincy Adams's. The death of John Adams and of Jefferson occurred. Great progress was made in the work of internal improvements (1825-1829) Jackson's. Jackson's war against the United States Bank, the "nuliification" movement of South Carolina, and the admission of Arkansas and Michigan into the Union (1829-1837) 66 Van Buren's. The Panic of 1837," and the formation of "Abolition Societies" (1837-1841). Harrison and Tyler's. The death of Harrison, Morse's magnetic telegraph invention, the preliminary measures for the annexation of Texas, and the admission of Florida into the Union (1841-1845). Polk's. The war with Mexico, of which the campaigns of Taylor and Scott were the principal features, and the acquisition of California and other territory the result, marks this administration. The discovery of gold in California; and the admission of Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin into the Union, were also important (1845-1849). Taylor and Fillmore's. The death of Taylor, the adoption of the Compromise of 1850," and the admission of California into the Union (1849-1853). Pierce's. The repeal of the "Missouri Compromise," the civil war in Kansas, and the treaty with Japan, were the principal events of this administration (1853-1857). *For a history of the Constitution of the United States and explanations of its language, and information respecting important features of laws enacted under it, including a history of the District of Columbia, see the Appendix, TOPICS FOR REVIEW. (See the hints and directions, p. 49.) Washington. (Let the account be from his inauguration, and include an estimate of his character and influence.) John Adams. (See Life and Works of John Adams, by his grandson, Charles Francis Adams.) 182-194 146-223 Thomas Jefferson. (See Randall's Life of Jefferson; also Parton's, and Tucker's.) 145-223 Alexander Hamilton. (See Life of Hamilton, by his son, J. C. Hamilton; also Morse's Life of Hamilton.) 179-200 Aaron Burr. (See Parton's Life of Burr.) John Jay. (See Life of John Jay, by his son William Jay.) 179, 185, 186 James Madison. (See Rives's Life of Madison.) 179-219 James Monroe. (See Lossing's Lives of the Presidents.) 219-222 Thirty Years' View.") Andrew Jackson. (See Parton's Life of Jackson; also Benton's 66 222-227 211 (note)-230 224-247 230-245 John C. Calhoun. (See Jenkins's Life of Calhoun ) James K. Polk. (Jenkins's "History of Polk's Administration.") 237-245 Franklin Pierce. (See Hawthorne's Life of Pierce.) |