1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 137 California’s Compensation and Territorial Claims

"Everyone, start voting."

Fillmore declared expressionlessly.

This time, there are no impassioned, inflammatory speeches, the protests of the people outside the Capitol, the newspapers in the hands of congressmen, and the Texas armed forces occupying New Mexico are the best speeches.

President Fillmore seemed confident about the outcome of the vote.

When the results of the vote were announced, President Fillmore remained calm.

On the bill regarding whether to take back the land grant from the Mexican government in California, more than half of the senators in the Senate voted against it, far exceeding everyone's expectations.

Even in the House of Representatives, which has an overwhelming majority in the old eastern states, more than one-third of the votes were against it.

The dust settled, and after the results were announced, Fillmore left Congress with a long-lost smile.

"Representatives from Texas and California, please come with me. Mr. President still has some things to discuss with you."

Presidential Secretary Wyatt walked up to the Texas Senator and California Senator who were high-fiving each other and said to them.

Fillmore first negotiated with the two Texas senators.

"All Texas armed forces in New Mexico territory must be withdrawn into the state." This is Fillmore's bottom line on the issue of Texas and New Mexico territory.

"As long as the federal government can pay Texas $10 million in compensation in one go."

Ron said with confidence that based on the information he knew, the federal government was currently unable to pay a one-time compensation of US$10 million.

What's more, now that California is also demanding compensation, the federal government's finances should be in dire straits.

"Texas will soon receive $10 million in compensation, and I hope that Texas armed forces will no longer appear in New Mexico by then." Fillmore said coldly, with a hint of threat in his tone.

The two Texas representatives were caught off guard by the president's attitude, and they left the Oval Office with stunned expressions.

After the two Texas representatives left, Treasury Secretary Corwin asked Fillmore uneasily: "Mr. President, the Treasury Department can't get so much money right now."

Fillmore was still well aware of the current predicament of the Treasury Department. The governor and lieutenant governor of California sent him letters many times, asking the federal government to compensate Los Angeles and the California soldiers who died in the conflict.

Lieutenant Governor Liang Yao also stated that if the federal government is unwilling to compensate for this, they will refuse to hand over 287 American Army prisoners including Colonel Mason.

The compensation requested by California is not low, as high as 5 million US dollars!

Fillmore wrote back to refute this, saying bluntly that the losses in a small town in Los Angeles with a population of only one or two thousand people were far less severe.

Liang Yao replied to President Fillmore on the grounds that life is priceless and the federal government sent troops brazenly into California, delaying the normal production and life of the people of California and causing losses exceeding tens of millions of dollars.

Liang Yao also thoughtfully said that the state of California also understands the difficulties faced by the federal government. If the federal government is unable to pay compensation, it can add the Nevada area to California.

California's bargaining made Fillmore very angry, but after weighing the pros and cons and comparing the seriousness of the problems in California and Texas, Fillmore still made a choice more beneficial to the federal government.

Of course, it was impossible for Fillmore to cede all of Nevada to California.

If he doesn't agree to it himself, Congress won't agree either.

"Didn't Wall Street sell land in California for $8.76 million? I remember that the money is still in the Treasury." Fillmore looked at Corwin.

If you want the Texas armed forces to withdraw from the New Mexico area, compensation from Texas must be paid immediately.

"You want to use this money? I have to remind you that by law this money does not belong to the Treasury." Corwin reminded Fillmore.

"According to the law, they should not buy and sell California land on Wall Street." President Fillmore's attitude was extremely tough.

"The Ministry of Finance keeps half and returns the other half to them. This incident happened because of them and they must be responsible for it. We cannot let our federal government wipe their butts entirely. They must also pay a certain amount of responsibility."

As he spoke, Fillmore unfolded a map of the United States on his desk and used a ruler to draw a straight longitude line on the map at 117° West Longitude.

Nevada is a territory in the Territory, and California is a free state. If the Nevada area west of 117° West Longitude is assigned to California, the resistance will not be that big, at least not as big as the territorial conflict between Texas and New Mexico.

The premise is that California is willing to pay a certain price for this, such as being willing to pay Texas $10 million in compensation to the federal government.

"Invite your favorite protégé to come in. Next, I should talk to him about California's problems." Fillmore put down the pen in his hand and said.

After the meeting of Congress ended, Calhoun was helped into the carriage and driven home.

His mood was very low, not only because the last proposal in his political career was rejected, but also because his political career ended with an unsatisfactory ending.

More importantly, he was ruined by this bill, and his once tall image among the people also collapsed.

Calhoun's carriage had just driven out of Capitol Hill, and he was greeted by an angry crowd that had not yet dispersed.

People threw various objects at his carriage, including stones, sticks, shoes, and even excrement.

The unpleasant and obscene words penetrated the carriage and entered the spacious carriage, stimulating every nerve in Calhoun's body.

"Sir, if you bear with it for a little longer, we will soon be able to leave here and return to your pure residence."

In the carriage, Seward, who was also in a very low mood, said to Calhoun.

Then, Seward cautiously stuck his head out of the car and roared to the angry crowd: "You ignorant fools! You have all been taken advantage of! Used as tools by those barbaric Californians!"

Siward's roar had no effect, and the abuse only became more intense.

Calhoun's stiff body trembled, and his breathing became very rapid. He raised his hand with great effort, pointed at the window of the carriage compartment, and uttered a few vague words: "Window. Close the window."

.”

Images of his own speeches during Presidents Madison and Monroe flashed through his mind, and images of himself running for president flashed through his mind. He looked so young and high-spirited on the podium.

Under the podium, as far as the eye could see, there were supporters waving flags and cheering for him.

That was his highlight moment and the era of his generation.

This era is gone forever.

Whether it was an illusion or reality, Calhoun could hear the whistle of a train and the roar of a large machine vaguely in his ears.

America's once peaceful and peaceful pastoral life was torn to pieces by the roar of this noisy and fucked-up machine.

Calhoun's vision went dark, his hands dropped weakly, and he stopped breathing.

(End of chapter)