Today in History: Compromise of 1850

Today in History–September 20–the Library of Congress features the abolishment of the slave trade in Washington D.C., which was a feature of a legislative package known as the Compromise of 1850. Learn more by reading the Today in History section, then clicking the links below to access related primary & secondary sources.

Compromise of 1850: American Treasures of the Library of Congress

Compromise of 1850 timeline and select documents

• January 29, 1850 : Senator Henry Clay introduces a series of resolutions.
• February 5 and 6, 1850: Senator Henry Clay defends compromise proposals
• March 4, 1850: Senator John Calhoun’s speech against the Compromise of 1850 was delivered by Senator James Murray Mason of Virginia
• March 7, 1850: Senator Daniel Webster delivered his speech in favor of the Compromise of 1850 (“Seventh of March” speech)
• Speech of Mr. Clay, of Kentucky, on the measures of compromise delivered in the Senate of the United States, July 22, 1850
• The slavery agitation. Speech of Hon. J. L. Orr, of South Carolina, in the House of representatives May 8, 1850
• More speeches related to the Compromise of 1850Letter to the Hon. Daniel Webster, on the compromises of the Constitution 1850

Historical newspaper coverage related to the Compromise of 1850

• “Mr. Clay’s Speech and Resolutions” The North-Carolina Standard. (Raleigh, N.C.), February 6, 1850.
• “Tuesday, February 5, 1850 – Senate” The National Era. (Washington [D.C.]), 07 Feb. 1850.
• “The Slavery Question – The Constitution of California” The New York Herald. (New York [N.Y.]), 14 Feb. 1850.
• More 1850 articles related to Clay’s resolutions in the Senate
• “Mr. Calhoun’s Speech” The North-Carolina Standard. (Raleigh, N.C.), March 13, 1850.
• More 1850 articles related to Calhoun’s speech in the Senate
• “Mr. Webster” The Daily Crescent. (New Orleans, La.), March 16, 1850.
• More 1850 articles related to Webster’s speech in the Senate

Related Today in History primary source collections

• Daniel Webster
• Henry Clay
• John C. Calhoun
• Abolition in D.C.

Primary Source Spotlight: Fugitive Slave Law

Resources outside the Library

• Clay’s Last Compromise, United States Senate
• Daniel Webster: The Constitution & the Union, United States Senate
• Our Documents, Compromise of 1850, National Archives and Records Administration
• Speech Costs Senator His Seat (Daniel Webster), United States Senate
• Struggles over Slavery: The Compromise of 1850, National Archives and Records Administration
• Thomas Hart Benton: Against the Compromise of 1850, United States Senate