The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 109
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Moveinent for State Division of California, 1849-1860 109
tion.25 In the letter to Senator Foote, the writer, who had written
in haste, indicated that documents would follow. There seems to be
no record that the petition of the citizens was later presented.
The debate on the admission of California lasted all summer.
During its progress, various efforts were made to provide for a
division before consent for admission would be given. On August
1, Senator Foote offered an amendment to an amendment which
had been proposed by Senator Douglas concerning public lands.
Foote suggested that a division of California should be made by
a line running along the parallel of 35 degrees 30 minutes, the
southern part thus cut off to become the territory of Colorado.
The amendment was lost by a vote of 23 ayes and 33 noes.20 On
August 6, Senator Turney offered an amendment which provided
that when the inhabitants of California in convention assembled
should establish as a southern boundary a line not farther south
than the parallel of 36 degrees 30 minutes, the state of California
might be admitted into the Union, on the proclamation of the
President. This amendment also provided for the extension of the
Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific Ocean. The Senate re-
jected this amendment by a vote of 24 ayes and 32 noes.27
Then Foote proposed an additional section. This provided that,
as soon as practicable after the passage of the act admitting it as a
state, California should ascertain by vote the feelings of its people
on the question of so modifying the boundaries of the state as to
make the line of 36 degrees 30 minutes, or some other line fixed
by them, its southern boundary. It further provided that, when
the people should declare for such a modification of boundaries by
a majority vote, the portion cut off should at once become the terri-
tory of Colorado.28 On August 10, Senator Turney made another
futile attempt to restrict the state to the portion falling above the
line of 36 degrees 30 minutes.29
An examination of the proposals made will show a gradation.
When it was seen that California's application for statehood was
looked upon with favor by many, there were efforts to bring about
2"Ibid., 967.
"Congressional Globe, 31st Congress, 1st Session, Appendix, II, 485.
"Ibid., 1510, 1511.
BCongressional Globe, 31st Congress, 1st Session, Appendix II, 1511.
29Ibid., 1519-1522.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/113/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.