In the prior year's debate in the House, Douglas had argued that all of the debate over slavery in the territories was premature; the time to deal with that issue was when the territory was actually organized by Congress.
前年の下院における議論で、ダグラスは領土内における奴隷制の議論は全て早計であり、議会が実際にその領土を組織化した時が問題を論じるときだと主張していた。