Question

Congress wanted to "keep the Union together despite slavery." What can you infer about this statement?

Answer 1

It is definitely D. Congress fought so hard to keep the Union together prior to the Civil War that they instilled a gag order against speaking of the slavery issue in Congress. 

Answer 2

The correct answer is:

D: Congress wanted to reach an agreement between the states instead of addressing the issue of slavery.

In 1850 the United States suffered a profound national crisis that threatened to split the nation between North and South over the issue of slavery in the new territories of California and New Mexico

The Compromise of 1850 defused the political dispute between slave and free states on the status of areas obtained during the Mexican–American War(1846–1848). Despite the compromise being greeted with relief, each faction complained about some of its provisions.