Mr. Trist immediately took the proposed Treaty to {339} Washington, and President Polk immediately laid it before the Senate for ratification. After three weeks of determined opposition by Senators from both parties and both sections, ratification was voted by the requisite two-thirds majority, on March 16th, 1848. With this the whole political energy of the nation was turned away from the international question to the internal questions involved in the organization of the vast territorial empire upon the Pacific, which had now been added to the United States by the Treaties with Great Britain and Mexico. {340} CHAPTER XVII. THE ORGANIZATION OF OREGON TERRITORY AND THE COMPROMISE OF 1850 Bills for Oregon Territory--Thirty-six Degrees and Thirty Minutes to the Pacific--Mr. Rhett on the Rights of the South in the Territories--The Third Oregon Bill--The Party Platforms of 1848--The President Urges the Organization of California and New Mexico--Mr. Clayton's Attempt at Compromise--Passage of the Oregon Bill by Congress--The Free-soil Party in 1848--The President's Approval of the Oregon Bill--Gold and Silver in California--The Election of Taylor, and the Disaffection of the Northern Democrats--Plans for the Organization of California and New Mexico--The House Bill for the Territorial Organization of Upper California--Mr. Walker's Scheme in the House--Mr. Webster and Mr. Berrien on the Status of Slavery in the Territory Acquired from Mexico--Emigration to California--President Taylor's Scheme--The Convention at Monterey--The Policy of the Administration--The Policy of the Slavery Extensionists--The Elements of the Slavery Question in Congress--Mr. Clay's Plan of Compromise--Objections to Mr. Clay's Plan--California's Application for Admission--Mr. Calhoun's Last Speech--Mr. Webster's March 7th Speech--Mr. Bell's Proposition--The Death of Mr. Calhoun--Mr. Foote's Motion and the Committee of Thirteen--The Report and Recommendations of the Committee--The Debate Upon the Bills Proposed by the Committee, and the Failure to Pass Them--The Temper of the Country--The Succession of Fillmore and His Message of August 6th--The Passage of Bills, Separately, Covering All Questions Contained in Mr. Clay's Compromise Measures. [Sidenote: First bill for Oregon Territory.]