Henry Clay's Argumentative Analysis

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Many politicians tried to offer a compromise that would please both the North and the South but none of them worked long-term. The biggest attempt was made by Henry Clay who put forth the basis for the Compromise of 1850 which consisted of 5 steps. “Admit California as a free state... Allow the residents of the New Mexico and Utah territories to decide the slavery issue for themselves. End the slave trade in the District of Columbia. Pass a new fugitive slave law… Set the boundary between Texas and New Mexico and pay Texas $10 million for the territory given up to New Mexico…” (The American Journey Ch.14 Pg.373). Three legendary statesmen, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster, debated Clay’s proposition which ended up being rejected.