Taylor focused on the issue of slavery when admitting the California and New Mexico to the union. He rushed bills for admitance through Congress. He urged Congress to allow the state to have their own individual constitutions. He wanted this assuming they would bar slavery so wouldnt have to make the chose to choose slave state or not. By having the states choose this upset southern sates because it could give free states an advantage.
Threat of succession
With the admittance of California would break the balance of free states and slaves states in Congress. At the time, there were 15 free and 15 slaves states. The thought of adding California as a free state and giving free states more power upset the Southern people. Some Democratic southerns called of a succession convention. This was stopped by Taylor announcing he would
hang anyone who tried to disrupt the union.
Compromise of 1850
To help solve conflicts with slavery and to prevent any state from succeeding, the Compromise of 1850 was established. "The Great Compromiser" , Henry Clay, came up with the Compromise of 1850 stating California would be admitted as a free state. New Mexico however would become US territory. This meant the state would being able to choose free or slave. Also, tougher fugitive laws were put into place. The compromise was supported by Massachusetts Senator Daniel Webster and Illinois Senator Stephen Douglass. While Senator John. C. Calhoun of South Carolina opposed it.
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