Wilmot Proviso

Following the acquisition of the new land from Mexico, tensions quickly rose after both the North and South heatedly discussed the future of legality in the new land. The Wilmot Proviso was the first attempt to solve this issue. It was written by David Wilmot of Pennsylvania and said that slavery and involuntary servitude would be illegal in the new land. As was to be expected, the Southern states strongly opposed it stating that Congress had no right to interfere with slavery.