Securing Kansas, they would gain more than the mere material advantage of an enlarged field for slave labor.

New Mexico at that time included all of Arizona; Utah included all of Nevada; Kansas, as organized, absorbed a large part of what is now Colorado, stretched along the eastern and northern boundary of New Mexico, and, crossing the Rocky Mountains, reached the confines of Utah.

If Kansas could be made a slave State it would control New Mexico and Utah, and the South could again be placed in a position of political equality if not of command.

The repeal of the Missouri Compromise had shown them for the first time that they could absolutely consolidate the Southern vote in Congress in defense of slavery, regardless of differences on all other issues.

But this power was of no avail, unless they could regain their equality in the Senate which had been lost by what they considered the mishap of California's admission.