Before General Taylor, the newly elected President, was inaugurated, there was imminent need of an efficient government.

An early act of the Administration was to send an agent to assist in the formation of a state Government, and a convention was immediately called to frame a constitution.

By unanimous vote of the convention, slavery was excluded.
The constitution was approved by popular vote and was presented to Congress for final acceptance in December, 1849.
In the meantime a great commotion had arisen among the people.

Southern state legislatures passed resolutions demanding that the rights of their peculiar institution should be recognized in the new Territory.

Northern legislatures responded with resolutions favoring the admission of California as a State and the application of the Wilmot Proviso to the remaining territory.