His bill was referred to the Committee on Territories, who returned it on February 2, 1853, organizing the Territory of Nebraska, which covered the same area: All the tract lying west of Iowa and Missouri, and extending west to the Rocky Mountains, generally known as the Platte Country.

The bill, on reaching the consideration of the Committee of the Whole, was met by an unexpected and formidable opposition from the Southern members, who recommended it be rejected.  The House; however, did not adopt the recommendation, but, instead, passed the bill and sent it to the Senate, where it was defeated at the close of the session on March 3, 1853, by a vote of 23 to 17.

This developing and futile effort to organize the territory were met with uncompromising opposition  from Southern members to the organization of any “free-state” territories until some an equal plan might be presented by a division of the slave State of Texas or other means. During the discussion of the bill, the validity of the Missouri Compromise, or the slavery prohibition, thereby established over the Territory, was not once brought in question. It was apparently accepted as a foregone conclusion that, whenever it should be organized into states or territories, it was to be, under an unalterable law, free territory, and from that belief sprang the Southern opposition. They were not yet ready to open up to settlement more territory, which, it was acknowledged, would eventually increase the number of free states.

Repeal Of The Missouri Compromise

When the 32nd Congress met on December 5, 1853, both branches had a strong Democratic majority who were pledged to the Southern compromises.

On December 14, 1853, Senator Dodge of Iowa, submitted to the Senate a new bill for the organization of the Territory of Nebraska, embracing the same region as the defeated bill of the preceding session. It was referred to the Committee on Territories, of which Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois was the Chairman.

On January 4, 1854, Douglas returned the bill with amendments which called in question the validity of the slavery prohibition, and foreshadowed the abolishment of the Missouri Compromise. After much debate, the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the provisions of the Missouri Compromise,  despite efforts made to fight the Act by prominent speakers, including Abraham Lincoln.