1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 109 Congress

Calhoun, the descendant of Irish and Scotsmen, was already at the peak of his popularity in Congress.

He served as President Monroe's Secretary of War, President Taylor's Secretary of State, and also served as Vice President. If there is any regret in Calhoun's official career, it is that he was not elected as the President of the United States.

Calhoun, who was lying in a wheelchair, hummed a few times and looked at the thick speeches and bills in his hands. His colleagues quickly understood what Calhoun meant.

Since Mr. Calhoun could no longer give impassioned speeches, Calhoun's speech was read by William Seward, a 49-year-old young politician from New York State.

The speech was long and boring, and all the 61 senators present, except Calhoun himself, fell asleep listening to it.

After reading the speech, Seward took out the bill tucked under his arm.

"Gentlemen, Mr. Calhoun and I believe that since California is now a territory of the United States, the Mexican government land grants in California are naturally illegal. Only land approved by the Congress and government at all levels of this country is legal.

I propose that the Mexican government land grants in California be taken back and that the gold mining areas and all land in California be owned by the company with the highest bid!”

After hearing these words, the senators in the audience became energetic again and agreed to the motion one after another.

Although the voting has not yet begun, Fremont can already get a glimpse of the results of this vote from the attitudes of these senators.

"Mr. Colhoun, as far as I know, after you married Mrs. Buono, you shamelessly occupied the property of your wife and your father-in-law. Are these properties also illegal?"

Although Calhoun is very popular now, when he was young, Calhoun was also a freeloader.

The Texas senator felt betrayed. Although the United States had annexed large tracts of Mexican territory, so far, most of these former Mexican territories are still sparsely populated territorial areas. Only those areas that have established states have

Texas and California.

They have already communicated with Governor Bell and believe that they will stand on California's side on this matter.

Early settlers in Texas owned more Mexican government land grants than in California.

If gold or other resources are discovered under the land in Texas in the future, there is no guarantee that Congress will not recognize the legality of these lands and make unreasonable demands to take back the land like today.

Facing the Texas senator's questioning, Calhoun's face turned ugly and he was very angry.

But Calhoun, who was seriously ill, could not speak out to refute.

"As we all know, Mr. Calhoun is keen on philanthropy. You have a very good public image. I wonder if you use your own money for charity or the money of your wife and father-in-law?"

Texas senators continue to take on Calhoun.

Calhoun was shaking all over and stared at the two Texas senators with cloudy eyes.

President Fillmore restrained the two Texas senators, fearing that Calhoun, who was seriously ill, would die in Congress.

Although Fillmore also hated these old guys who were in high positions and occupied the toilet and did nothing, he couldn't watch these old guys die in Congress.

"Mr. Fremont, do you have anything to say?"

President Fillmore asked Fremont.

Gervin has returned to California, and Fremont is the only one left to represent California in Congress.

Fillmore wanted to hear what Fremont had to say, even though he knew that Fremont's speech would be of no use.

Fillmore is a veteran in the political arena. The relationship between these senators and the plutocratic aristocrats is like a mirror.

At present, the American economy is in recession and the unemployment rate remains high. Fillmore hopes to transfer part of the population from the eastern region to the west through the westward movement. California is the most important part of the westward movement.

Fillmore, who came from a lower-class background, knew very well that in order to maintain the stability of American society, the American government must not only appease the emotions of the upper-class elites, but also cannot completely ignore the voices of the people at the bottom.

He knows very well what the people at the bottom need, which is hope and room for advancement.

Now California's gold is the hope of these unemployed people at the bottom.

The gold in California is the hope of these middle- and lower-class people, because once they go to California and make a fortune through gold mining, they can quickly complete their class transition.

California gold is gold in the eyes of these consortium representatives, while in Fillmore's eyes it is a painkiller to ease the dissatisfaction of the middle and lower classes.

"Gentlemen, do you know what you are doing now?"

Fremont stood up angrily, holding a land contract in his hand, which was also his last trump card.

"You are illegally depriving private property! You are trampling on the Constitution of the United States! Have you ever considered the consequences of taking back these lands?"

"Mr. Fremont, I think you are being alarmist. Can you tell me what the consequences will be if you take back these lands?" Seward disagreed. "These territories were bought with the blood of American soldiers. We take back these lands."

It is not only reasonable and legal, but also a more reasonable distribution of these lands in order to better develop California and comfort the spirits of those soldiers who sacrificed their lives."

"Well said! Mr. Seward, will you participate in the war with Mexico?" Fremont asked Seward.

"No." Seward wanted to answer yes, but unfortunately, he did not participate in the Mexican-American War.

Before the Mexican-American War broke out, Seward even voted against the vote on whether to declare war on Mexico.

"I have participated! The American immigrants in California have also participated! They also have part of the land you want to take back!" Fremont said, "Even if you don't recognize the land grant from the Mexican government, the law stipulates that the terra nullius in the west, whoever gets the first

It belongs to whoever develops it. It is illegal for you to take back these lands! It is unconstitutional!"

"We can change the constitution!"

Calhoun, who was paralyzed in a wheelchair, used all his strength to utter these words to support Seward.

"Congress certainly has the power to amend the Constitution." Fremont also admitted this, "but have you ever thought about it, after the Constitution is amended, who else is willing to go to the wild lands of the West for development? California gold prospectors and mines

Will the unions hand over their land easily? What will be the consequences of taking back their land?”

"Fremont, what do you mean? Are you threatening Congress?" Seward tried to push Fremont against all the senators.

"I am also a member of Congress, how can I threaten Congress?"

Fremont slapped the land deed with the seal of Congress on the podium.

"This is a land deed in California. Part of the land in California was originally approved by Congress, and it has the seal of Congress on it.

If the Congress now rashly takes back these owned lands for bidding and auction, I think this will damage the reputation of the Congress, and I ask you to think carefully before voting. That’s all I want to say.”

After that, Fremont sat down and took out two more land deeds with the seal of Congress and circulated them among the senators.

The senators did not realize that Fremont still had a congressionally authorized deed to the land.

Seward's first reaction was that these land deeds were forged, but on second thought he thought it was impossible. No matter how courageous Fremont was, he would not dare to forge the seal of Congress.

Seward handed the land deed in his hand to Secretary of State Webster standing aside, pointed to the congressional seal on the land deed and asked: "Mr. Webster, is this seal real?"

Webster carefully looked at the congressional seal and gave an affirmative answer: "This is true."

"Okay, everyone, let's start the voting now."

Fillmore announced that a vote would now begin on whether to reclaim land in California.

This kind of thing was originally done by the vice president, but he took office in a hurry and did not have time to choose a vice president. Fortunately, Fillmore was originally a vice president and was already familiar with the process of this kind of thing.

(End of chapter)