Mr.Webster upheld the latter view, and the discussion is chiefly interesting from the fact that Mr.Webster got the better of Mr.Calhoun in the argument, and as an example of the latter's excessive ingenuity in sustaining and defending a more than doubtful proposition.

The result of the whole business was, that nothing was done, except to extend the revenue laws of the United States to New Mexico and California.
Before Congress again assembled, one of the subjects of their debates had taken its fortunes into its own hands.

California, rapidly peopled by the discoveries of gold, had held a convention and adopted a frame of government with a clause prohibiting slavery.

When Congress met, the Senators and Representatives of California were in Washington with their free Constitution in their hands, demanding the admission of their State into the Union.
New Mexico was involved in a dispute with Texas as to boundaries, and if the claim of Texas was sanctioned, two thirds of the disputed territory would come within the scope of the annexation resolutions, and be slave-holding States.

Then there was the further question whether the Wilmot Proviso should be applied to New Mexico on her organization as a territory.
The President, acting under the influence of Mr.Seward, advised that California should be admitted, and the question of slavery in the other territories be decided when they should apply for admission.