ily Clay met and presided in caucus over
what he called the Union men of the Senate, including Whigs and
Democrats.

These measures were supported by Clay, Webster, Cass, Douglas, and
Foote; opposed by Seward, Chase, Hale, Davis of Massachusetts, and
Dayton, anti-slavery men; also by Benton, an independent Democrat,
a slaveholder in Missouri and the District of Columbia,(73) and by
Jefferson Davis, and others of the Calhoun Southern type.

President Taylor opposed the Clay plan. He denominated the blending
on incongruous subjects as an "Omnibus Bill." He favored dealing
with each subject on its own merits. He regarded the Texas and
New Mexico boundary dispute as a question between the United States
and New Mexico, not between Texas and New Mexico.(74) He favored
the admission of California with her free State Constitution. Even
earlier, he announced that he would approve a bill containing the
Wilmot Proviso. He indignantly responded to Stephens' and Toombs'
demands in the interests of slavery, coupled with threatened
disunion, by giving them to understand he would, if necessary, take
the field himself to enforce the laws, and if the gentlemen were
taken in rebellion he would hang them as he had deserters and spies
in Mexico.(75)

Taylor died (July 8, 1850) pending the great discussion, chagrined
and mortified over the unsettled condition of his country. His
last words were: "_I have always done my duty; I am ready to die.
My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me_."

He was a great soldier and patriot, and his character hardly
justified the whole of the common appellation, "Rough and Ready."
He was perhaps always ready, but not rough; on the contrary, he
was a man of peace and order. On his election to the Presidency
he desired some plan to be adopted for California by which "to
substitute the rule of law and order there for the bowie knife and
revolver."(76)

In August, 1850, the great debate ceased, and voting in the Senate
commenced. The plan of the "thirteen" underwent changes, their
bills being segregated, substitutes were offered for them, and many
amendments were made to the several bills. Davis of Mississippi
insisted upon the extension of the Missouri Compromise line--36 deg.
30'--to the Pacific Ocean. This brought out Mr. Clay's best
sentiments. He said:

"Coming as I do from a slave State, it is my solemn, deliberate,
and well matured determination that no power, no earthly pow