As the Democrats were grappling with their own troubles, leaders in the Republican party fought to keep elected members focused on the issue of slavery in the West, which allowed them to mobilize popular support.
民主党は自分達の問題に関わっていたので、共和党の指導者達は選出された党員に西部での奴隷制問題に集中させておけば、民衆の支持をかり集めさせることができた。