Digital Resources

The Library of Congress website contains a variety of digital materials related to the Compromise of 1850, including congressional publications, manuscripts, books, pamphlets, printed ephemera, and newspaper articles.

Congressional Publications

Congress.gov
This collection contains congressional publications such as debates, bills, laws, and journals, including legislative materials from 1850.

Compromise of 1850 Debate References:

Selected references to debate on the Compromise of 1850 can be found in the Congressional Globe, 31st Congress, 1st Session, on the following dates:

January 29, 1850 External
The Compromise of 1850 was introduced by Senator Henry Clay in a series of eight resolutions.
February 5 and 6, 1850 External
Senator Henry Clay defended his compromise proposals in a two-day speech.
March 4, 1850 External
Senator John Calhoun's speech against the Compromise of 1850 was delivered. Calhoun was too weak to give the speech so it was read by Senator James Murray Mason of Virginia.
March 7, 1850 External
Senator Daniel Webster delivered his speech in favor of the Compromise of 1850 ("Seventh of March" speech).

Search this collection in the 31st Congress, 1st Session, to find additional congressional documents related to the Compromise of 1850.

Exhibitions

American Treasures of the Library of Congress - Compromise of 1850
Exhibit of documents from Senators John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster on the Compromise of 1850.

Historic Newspapers

Chronicling America
Historic American newspapers selected and contributed by state partners in the National Digital Newspaper Program.

A selection of articles includes:

Manuscript Division

Daniel Webster's notes for his speech to the United States Senate favoring the Compromise of 1850, 7 March 1850. (Daniel Webster Papers)
John C. Calhoun's speech to the United States Senate against the Compromise of 1850, 4 March 1850. (John C. Calhoun Papers)
Millard Fillmore Papers
The papers of Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), educator, U.S. representative from New York, vice president, and thirteenth president of the United States, contain approximately thirty-five items spanning the years 1839-1925, with the bulk dating from 1839 to 1870. The collection includes correspondence relating primarily to political issues such as slavery, Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, John Brown's 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and congressional politics.

Maps

McConnell's Historical maps of the United States. Chicago, Ill. : McConnell Map Co., [1919]
The Compromise of 1850
The comprehensive series, historical-geographical maps of the United States. Chicago, Ill. : Modern School Supply Co., [1919]
The Compromise of 1850

Rare Books, Pamphlets, and Printed Ephemera

African American Perspectives: Materials Selected from the Rare Book Collection
"African American Perspectives" gives a panoramic and eclectic review of African American history and culture and is primarily comprised of two collections in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division: the African American Pamphlet Collection and the Daniel A.P. Murray Collection with a date range of 1822 through 1909. The collection contains seven items related to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Slaves and the Courts, 1740 to 1860
This collection consists of 105 library books and manuscripts, totaling approximately 8,700 pages drawn principally from the Law Library and the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress, with a few from the General Collections. The collection contains fifteen books related to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Printed Ephemera: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera
The Printed Ephemera collection comprises 28,000 primary-source items dating from the seventeenth century to the present and encompasses key events and eras in American history. Search this collection to locate additional printed ephemera related to the Constitution.

Selected highlights from this collection:

Selected Digitized Books
This is a growing collection of selected books and other materials from the Library of Congress General Collections that can be made openly available. Most of the materials in this collection were published in the United States and are in English. The collection features thousands of works of fiction, including books intended for children, young adults, and other audiences. There are also some materials in foreign languages that were published in other countries. The materials in this collection can be read online or downloaded. Search the collection to find a large number of items related to the Compromise of 1850.

Selected highlights from this collection:

Today in History

March 7, 1850
Senator Daniel Webster delivered his famous "Seventh of March" speech urging sectional compromise on the issue of slavery.
September 20, 1850
The U.S. Congress abolished the slave trade in the District of Columbia on September 20, 1850, as part of the legislative package called the Compromise of 1850.

Compromise of 1850: Primary Documents in American History

History, Humanities & Social Sciences: Ask a Librarian

Digital Resources

Congressional Publications

Compromise of 1850 Debate References:

Exhibitions

Historic Newspapers

A selection of articles includes:

Manuscript Division

Maps

Rare Books, Pamphlets, and Printed Ephemera

Selected highlights from this collection:

Selected highlights from this collection:

Today in History