Compromise of 1850: Power Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Section.Line)

Quote #1

The State of Texas cedes to the United States all her claim to territory exterior to the limits and boundaries which she agrees to establish by the first article of this agreement. The State of Texas relinquishes all claim upon the United States for liability of the debts of Texas, and for compensation or indemnity for the surrender to the United States of her ships, forts, arsenals, custom-houses, custom-house revenue, arms and munitions of war, and public buildings with their sites, which became the property of the United States at the time of the annexation. (Texas.Section 1.4-5)

Texas was an independent republic for a few years, but just before the Mexican-American War it was annexed into the United States—which meant it had to submit to the authority of the central U.S. government. Part of the Compromise of 1850 involved dealing with how to get Texas to accept that arrangement and relinquish some of its own power. Spoiler alert: money talks.

Quote #2

[…] nothing in this act contained shall be construed to inhibit the government of the United States from dividing said Territory into two or more Territories, in such manner and at such times as Congress shall deem convenient and proper, or from attaching any portion thereof to any other Territory or State. (Texas.Section 2.3-4)

There are a lot of parts of the Compromise of 1850 that outline how the governments of the new states will be set up. Here, though, is a not-so-gentle reminder that the federal government is still the big man on campus until you're officially a state. Then you get to decide lots of stuff for yourself.

Quote #3

And be it further enacted, That the executive power and authority in and over said Territory of New Mexico shall be vested in a governor […] until his successor shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The governor shall reside within said Territory, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia thereof […] and shall approve all laws passed by the legislative assembly before they shall take effect. (Texas.Section 3.1-2)

Setting up governments in the new western territories meant creating a power structure for those territories. The final result gave power to the position of governor, but also kept some for the federal government. POTUS couldn't fire the governor of a state, but he could ax the governor of a territory. You can see why the territories were so hot to become states as soon as they could.