At that time the national reflex was less sensitive than it later became with increased telegraphic and news facilities.

Washington was not always promptly and exactly advised of the political situation in this or that more remote portion of the country.

This very fact, however, meant a greater stability in the political equilibrium.
Upon the western borders the feeling of unrest now became most marked; and, more swiftly than was generally recognized, important matters there were going forward; but even in that direction, declared the prophets of peace, all now was more calm than it had been for years.
Six years before this time Mr.Wilkins, secretary of war, had proposed to organize Nebraska Territory and to extend thither the army posts; and in that same year Stephen A.Douglas, then of the House, had introduced a bill for the organization of Nebraska; but neither effort had had result.

Two years later, Douglas, then in the Senate, once more sought to test the Squatter Sovereignty idea regarding the new western lands, but once more a cold silence met his attempts.

Six months after that time the same bill, with the intent of attaching Nebraska to the state of Arkansas, was killed by Congress, because held to be dangerous.