TheBoost said:

Bingowings said:

Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't the 1850 compromise as much about land rights as slave legislation?

A couple things, like Texas's western edge, and the Mormons not getting a big state (help me out Ender... was it The State of Desierta), were in it, but the vast majority of the decisions were based on keeping the Slave/Free state thing from exploding for another decade.

I believe you are right as to the nature of the creation of Utah Territory, which was originally to be called Deseret (a name that hearkens to something in the Book of Mormon, not desierta, which is "desert" in Spanish :), and which was a free state.

This thread has gotten interesting! I had planned to share my opinion when I got the chance, but I think Tyrphanax has already covered it quite well, and he's clearly far more knowledgeable than I on the topic :)