Who came up with the plan to end the argument over free and slave states?

The plan to end the argument over free and slave states was largely formulated by Senator Henry Clay in the 1850s. Known as the Compromise of 1850, it aimed to address the tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions by admitting California as a free state while allowing new territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. Clay's efforts were pivotal in temporarily easing sectional conflicts, though the compromise ultimately proved to be a short-term solution.