Shortly after Niles' and Crittenden's visit to Havana, the Spanish requested a second meeting, again in Cuba, with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Ramon Maria Narvaez. This time, President Clay sent prominent Democrat Stephen Douglas to aid in the negotiations with Secretary Crittenden. The meeting last two days, May 14th and 15th and ended with Narvaez submitting to demands to remove the Emporer from Mexico. For their part, the Americans agreed to uphold the Monroe Doctrine's exemption for Spanish Cuba, but firmly denounced Spain for its involvement in Mexico. The Treaty of Havana was smoothed through Senate approval by Douglas' involvement and ended, for the time, the many questions concerning Mexico, Spain, and the United States. The wroth that had been stirred up in the US would not be quelled by the treaty, and the many who favored war with America's neighbors would have their day in the Washington, but it was to come later.
Meanwhile, other issues were taking prominence. In 1846, Iowa had been admitted as a state and now the people of the Wisconsin Territory sought statehood as well. However, the seemingly uncomplicated issue became very complicated. Tradition since 1820 dictated that a free and slave state would be admitted together, in order to maintain a balance between the states that favored and opposed slavery. In 1845, Florida had been admitted as a slave state, and the following year saw Iowa admitted as a free-soil state. Now, Wisconsin would add another free state, but there was no territory to become a slave state. Southern politicians therefore protested admitting the state until a solution could be formulated. Ultimately, Wisconsin was admitted, as a free state, but Southern politicians would continue to seek a solution to the imbalance.
To the west, another issue was developing quickly. In the Mexican territory known as California, gold had been discovered by two American brothers in March. The news reached New York in July and immediately sparked a massive interest by American miners and prospectors to settle in the valleys of the Pacific coast. Without a doubt, their settlement in California would cause trouble, but the Americans already present were causing problems already. In 1846, an American explorer, John C. Fremont arrived in California and promptly created unrest in the territory. After being driven out by Mexican authorities initially, he returned later the same year and was sought for arrest. In resisting his arrest, Fremont was killed by Mexican soldiers. Americans in the region were outraged and reacted violently, taking arms against Mexican troops and assassinating the Governor of Alta California, Pio Pico, in retaliation. Led by William Ide, a group of Americans set out to kill or take prisoner Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Vallejo, who was sympathetic to American takeover of California, peacefully acquiesced and was taken prisoner. With Mexico's governor dead and the military commander unable and unwilling to resist, William Ide declared himself Governor of Alta California and sent a notification as such to Mexico City.
Forces from Mexico proper arrived in early 1847 with orders to quell the insurrection and free Vallejo. Vallejo was turned over to the Mexican military on February 6th, but Ide declared an independent Republic of California. However, he was captured in the town of Sonoma within a short time. He had gathered a sizable force of men who were nevertheless poorly armed and lacking any formal military training. Ide and most of his men were held in the Presidio at Sonoma and Mexican rule was declared to be reinforced, though in reality a handful of revolts were still occurring throughout the territory.
In response to the growing number of Americans arriving illegally, Mexico granted visas only to those who claimed to be actual miners and arrested many who were seen as troublemakers. Nevertheless, several thousand were flooding California and there was very little Mexican officials could do. Taxes were placed on mining equipment and explosives, though they were often ignored. Despite the very short-lived revolt, Mexico feared that with more and more Americans arriving, another attempt to declare California independent. The situation was not made any better when Emperor Enrique was recalled by Spain after little more than a year in power.