Series of compromises in 1860–61 intended to forestall the American Civil War .
Sen. Missouri Compromise and extend them to the western territories, indemnify owners of fugitive slaves whose return was prevented by antislavery elements in the North, allow a form of popular sovereignty in the territories, and protect slavery in the District of Columbia. The plan was rejected by president-elect {{link=Lincoln, Abraham">Abraham Lincoln and narrowly defeated in the Senate.