VOA慢速英语:President Fillmore Signs Compromise of 1850

短语讲解：

1. At that time, owning slaves was legal in the southern states.  Many northerners opposed slavery.

at that time 在那时; 当时
例句：Were bras a social construct at that time?
那时候的社会对文胸的就有构思吗？

2. In fact, many lawmakers had come to support the idea of Senator Henry Clay's compromise.

in fact 实际上，其实
例句：In fact, it could help.
事实上，这可能有利无害。

3. But they could not agree on which parts of it to pass first.

agree on 对某事[物]有同样看法， 商定[同意]某事
例句：The three governments also need to agree on new economic arrangements.
三方政府还需要达成一项新的经济协议。

4. But then the president made it clear that he would do everything he could to defeat it.

make clear 解释;弄清
例句：Make clear to him before you do this. 
在你做这件事前应该向他说明。 

5. Early in 1850, Texas sent a representative to Santa Fe to take control of the government.

take control of 控制
例句：Surely she would take control of the situation; after all she was a professional. 
她肯定会控制这局面，她毕竟是个行家。 

6. He said if trouble broke out, the United States government would be to blame.

break out （战争、打斗等不愉快事件）突然发生，爆发; 突然发生
例句：A fire break out last night.
昨天夜里发生了一起火灾。

7. And he said he was willing to hang anyone who rebelled against the Union.

be willing to 乐于; 甘于
例句：People may even be willing to die for their pets.
甚至有人愿意为宠物献出自己的生命。

8. Time was running out.

run out 用完; 耗尽
例句：The aircraft will run out of fuel in another hour. 
 飞机再过一小时燃料就将用完。

9. They did not care about the constitutional rights of blacks.

care about 担心; 喜欢; 在乎
例句：A selfish person does not care about other people's problem. 
自私的人是不关心别人的困难的。