James Polk had no issue putting America under threat to fight for the south's lands, but would repeatedly compromise on any of the north's values. Further, an end of slavery would bring benefits to Polk's people in the west, as slaves did not contribute to the north's economy, but remained a large threat to steal Pennsylvanian jobs in the new territories. As a member of the House of Representatives, he wished to combat this, and so drafted the Wilmot Proviso as a clause to Polk's war bill. After its eventual failure, Wilmot did not stop striving to meet his goals. He was one of the key founders of the Free Soil Party, a venture meant to curb the growing tides of slavery. Despite his failure with the Wilmot Proviso, many politicians still looked at his capabilities favorably. He was offered a spot in future President Lincoln's cabinet, a member of the Washington peace convention, and ended his career as a judge. And his eventual goal of stopping the expansion of slavery was seen less than 2 decades later, after the Civil War.