Chapter 67: Stephen Douglas calls for opening the newly acquired Mexican land to the west.

His plan is to make Chicago the hub for the coming transcontinental railroad and open up the Mississippi Valley west of his property in Hyde Park. However, he is challenged by three powerful southerners, Virginians, Robert Hunter (Finance Committee Chair) and James Mason (Foreign Affairs) and South Carolinian Andrew Butler (Judiciary).

They favor a southern route for the railroad along the Mexican border, which is actually recommended by Jefferson Davis and the Senate commissions evaluating the options.