The Compromise of 1850 was a compromise between the anti-slavery and pro-slavery parties in the USA. As it was finally passed, it took the form of several separate bills, which had been practically comprehended in Clay's 'Omnibus Bill', proposed and defeated a short time before. Under the compromise, Texas was allowed $10,000,000 for New Mexico, and the boundary of that territory was cut down considerably. On August the 13th, California was admitted to the Union with her free Constitution. On August the 15th, bills for establishing territorial governments in New Mexico and Utah were passed, containing a slavery option clause proposed by SenatorSoule. On August the 26th, the fugitive slave bill, denying arrested Negroes a trial by jury, and prohibiting redress to free coloured [black] seamen imprisoned in Southern ports, was passed. Research Compromise of 1850
The Gadsden Treaty was a treaty negotiated by the United States with Mexico in 1853 by James Gadsden. By this treaty the United States secured 45,000 square miles of land in what is now Arizona and New Mexico. The United States paid Mexico $10,000,000, but received a considerably larger amount from Mexico for Indian depredation claims. Research Gadsen Treaty
The Omnibus Bill was a bill submitted to the American Congress by Henry Clay on January the 29th, 1850, at the time of the application of California for admission to the Union. The bill provided for the admission of California with her free constitution; territorial governments in New Mexico and Utah without express restriction upon slavery; a territorial boundary line between Texas and New Mexico in favour of the former; a more effective fugitive slave law; and denial to Congress of power to interfere with the slave trade between slave States. After much cutting and amendment the bill was passed in July, 1850, as a series of acts. Research Omnibus Bill
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was negotiated between the USA and Mexico by Nicholas Trist for the United States in 1848, at the conclusion of the Mexican War. By this treaty Mexico ceded to the United States the territory of Texas, New Mexico and Upper California, and agreed upon the Rio Grande River as the boundary between herself and Texas. The United States agreed to pay Mexico $15,000,000 and to assume all claims of its citizens against Mexico arising before the treaty. It reserved to Mexicans in the ceded territory the option to remove or remain and assured protection of their rights of property. Research Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Wilmot Proviso was an American anti-slavery proposal. On August the 8th, 1846, President Polk of America, in a special message to Congress, requested 'money for the adjustment of a boundary with Mexico', that is, for the purchase of Mexican territory outside of Texas. A bill appropriating $2,000,000 was at once introduced into the House. David Wilmot, a Democrat, of Pennsylvania, proposed as an amendment the since famous 'Wilmot Proviso', which 'provided that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly convicted'. The bill thus amended passed the House, but failed in the Senate. On January the 4th, 1847, a bill appropriating $3,000,000 instead of $2,000,000 was proposed by Preston King. It passed the House with the proviso attached, but the latter was dropped in the Senate. For a number of years the Wilmot Proviso was brought up and debated whenever new territories were to be organized. It was discussed in the case of Oregon, California, Utah and New Mexico, but was not finally established until June the 9th, 1861, when Congress passed an act prohibiting 'slavery in any territories of the United States now existing, or which may be hereafter formed or acquired'. Research Wilmot Proviso
Coelophysis was a cunning and agile carnivorousdinosaur from the Triassic era. It was 2.5 metres long and about 1m tall when standing on its back legs. Remains of Coelophysis were first found in 1889, and then in 1947 a mass of over 100 specimens were found in New Mexico, USA. Some of the specimens were found with small Coelophysis bones inside. These may have been unborn young, or may indicate that the dinosaur was cannibalistic. Research Coelophysis
Abbreviations
Research Compagnie de 1'Occident
