Speech did not promote unity between the North and South. On the contrary, it often served to drive a wedge between the two regions. For example, the Compromise of 1850, which was supposed to resolve sectional differences, actually ended up exacerbating them. The fugitive slave law included in the compromise required citizens of the North to return escaped slaves to their owners, and this was met with fierce resistance in the North. On the other hand, the South felt it did not go far enough in protecting slavery, as it prohibited the Southern extension of slavery beyond the 36°30′ parallel.