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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

United States. Congress Report of the Committee on the Judiciary with the views of the minority of that committee on bill S. 350, for the admission of California into the Union as a state

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00267.131 Author/Creator: United States. Congress Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Pamphlet Date: January 15, 1849 Pagination: 16 p. : Height: 22.4 cm, Width: 14.4 cm Order a Copy

Two reports against the case for admitting California to the Union, dealing with states' rights and federal jurisdiction. Berrien feels that the territory acquired in the treaty with Mexico is too large for a single state, and ponders the inevitable problems that would arise. Resolves that a territorial government be established for the part of California west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and for the territory of New Mexico west of the western boundary of Texas. Downs is concerned with the administration of California. Calls for a convention to draw up laws, and resolves that a district judge, attorney, and marshal will be appointed as overseers.

Berrien, John MacPherson, 1781-1856
Downs, Solomon Weathersbee, 1801-1854

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