The issue of a railroad to the Pacific precipitated a major sectional split in 1853 when the Purchase of territory from seemed to favor the technically easier southern route. Motivated by a desire to benefit both his region and himself, Illinois Senator Stephen A. countered in 1854 with a northern route proposal that would require the area west of the Missouri River to be formally organized into a territory. His proposal was to split this territory into two parts, with the status of slavery to be decided on the principle of " sovereignty." The northern territory, to be called , would presumably vote for "free-soil," while the southern territory, to be called , was expected to favor slavery.