1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 109 Congress
Calhoun, the descendant of the Irish and Scots, was at the height of his popularity in Parliament at this time.

He served as Secretary of War for President Monroe, Secretary of State for President Taylor, and Vice President. If there is any regret in Calhoun's career, it is that he was not elected President of the United States.

Calhoun, who was lying in a wheelchair, hummed a few times, looking at the thick speech and motion in his hand, his colleagues quickly understood what Calhoun meant.

Since Mr. Calhoun could no longer give an impassioned speech, Calhoun's speech was read by William Seward, a 49-year-old young statesman from New York.

The speech was long and tedious, and the 61 senators present, except Calhoun himself, listened drowsily.

After reading the speech, Seward took out the bill he had tucked under his arm.

"Gentlemen, Mr. Calhoun, and I believe that since California is now the territory of the United States, the land grants from the Mexican government in California are naturally illegal. Only land that has been approved by the country's parliaments and governments at all levels is legal.

I propose to take back the Mexican government land grant in California, the goldfields and all land in California to be owned by the highest bidder! "

Hearing this sentence, the senators in the audience regained their spirits and agreed with the proposal.

Although the voting has not yet started, Fremont has already been able to see the results of the vote from the attitudes of these senators.

"Mr. Colehoun, as far as I know, after you married Mrs. Bruno, you shamelessly usurped the property of your wife and father-in-law. Are these properties illegal?"

Although Calhoun is very prosperous now, Calhoun was also a soft eater when he was young.

The Texas senator feels betrayed by the fact that while the United States has annexed swaths of Mexico, much of the former Mexican territory has so far remained sparsely populated.The only states that have become states are Texas and California.

They've made peace with Governor Bell that they want to side with California in this matter.

Early settlers in Texas had more land-grants from the Mexican government than California.

If gold or other resources are found under the land in Texas in the future, it is difficult to guarantee that Congress will not recognize the legitimacy of these lands.Make unreasonable demands to take back land like today.

Facing the questioning by the Texas senator, Calhoun's face was ugly and he was very angry.

But Calhoun, who was seriously ill, couldn't open his mouth to refute.

"As we all know, Mr. Calhoun is keen on charity. You have a good public image. I wonder if you use your own money for charity or your wife and father-in-law's money for charity?"

The Texas senator continued to make up for Calhoun.

Calhoun was trembling all over, staring at the two Texas senators with cloudy eyes.

President Fillmore stopped two unreasonable Texas senators, fearing that Calhoun, who was seriously ill, would die in Congress.

Although Fillmore also hates these high-ranking and powerful old antiques who occupy the latrine and don't shit, he can't watch these old guys die in Congress.

"Mr. Fremont, do you have anything to say?"

President Fillmore asked about Fremont.

Ge Wen has returned to California, and only Fremont can represent California in Congress.

Fillmore wanted to hear Fremont speak, although he knew that Fremont's speech was useless.

Fillmore is an old stick in the political arena, and the relationship between these senators and the plutocratic nobles is like a mirror in Fillmore's heart.

At present, the American economy is depressed and the unemployment rate remains high. Fillmore hopes to transfer part of the population from the eastern region to the west through the westward movement.And California is the most important link in the westward movement.

Fillmore, who was born at the bottom, knows that in order to maintain the stability of American society, the American government must not only appease the emotions of the upper class elite, but also cannot completely ignore the voices of the people at the bottom.

He knows exactly what the people at the bottom need, which is hope and room for improvement.

Now the gold in California is the hope of these unemployed people at the bottom.

The gold in California is the hope of these lower-middle-class people, because once they go to California and make a fortune through gold mining, they can quickly complete the class transition.

California gold is gold in the eyes of these consortium representatives, but in the eyes of Fillmore it is a painkiller to ease the dissatisfaction of the middle and lower classes.

"Gentlemen, do you know what you are doing now?"

Fremont stood up angrily, holding a land contract in his hand, which was also his last trump card.

"You are illegally depriving private property! You are trampling on the Constitution of the United States! Have you ever considered the consequences of taking back these lands?"

"Mr. Fremont, I think you are scaremongering. Tell me about the consequences of taking back these lands?" Seward disagreed, "These territories were bought with the blood of American soldiers, and we will take back these lands Not only is it reasonable and legal, but it is also a more reasonable distribution of these lands in order to better develop California and comfort the souls of those who sacrificed their lives.”

"Well said! Mr. Seward, so may I ask you to participate in the war against Mexico?" Fremont asked Seward.

"No." Seward wanted to answer yes, but unfortunately, he did not participate in the Mexican-American War.

Before the Mexican-American War broke out, Seward even voted against the vote on whether to declare war on Mexico.

"I have participated! The American immigrants in California have also participated! The land you want to take back also has their part!" Fremont said, "Even if you don't recognize the land-grant from the Mexican government, the law stipulates that whoever gets the first place in the unowned land in the west The development belongs to whoever it is, and it is illegal for you to take back these lands! It is unconstitutional!"

"We can change the constitution!"

Calhoun, who was paralyzed in a wheelchair, spat out such a sentence with all his strength, standing for Seward.

"Of course Congress has the power to amend the Constitution." Fremont also admitted this, "but have you ever thought that after the constitution is amended, who is willing to go to the wild west for development? Will the unions give up their land easily? What will be the consequences of taking their land back?"

"Fremont, what do you mean? Are you threatening Congress?" Seward tried to push Fremont against all the senators.

"I am also a member of Congress, how can I threaten Congress?"

Fremont slapped the land deed bearing the congressional seal on the podium.

"This is a land deed in California, and part of the land in California was originally licensed by Congress, and it also has the seal of Congress.

If the Congress now rashly takes back these owned lands for bidding and auction, I think it will damage the reputation of the Congress. Please think carefully before voting. That's all I want to say. "

After all, Fremont sat down and took out two more land deeds with the seal of Congress to circulate among the senators.

The senators had no idea that Fremont still had a land deed authorized by Congress.

Seward's first reaction was that these land deeds were forged, but then he realized that it was impossible. No matter how brave Fremont was, he would not dare to forge the seal of Congress.

Seward handed the land deed in his hand to Secretary of State Webster, pointed to the congressional seal on the land deed and asked, "Mr. Webster, is this seal real?"

Webster examined the Congressional seal carefully and replied in the affirmative: "It's true."

"Okay, everyone, let's start voting now."

Fillmore announced that a vote will now begin on whether to repossess California land.

This kind of thing was originally done by the vice president, but he took office in a hurry and hadn't had time to elect the vice president.Fortunately, Fillmore was originally a vice president, and he was already familiar with the process of this kind of thing.

(End of this chapter)