How did congress react to the growing conflict over slavery

the House of Representatives made a rule saying abolitionist petitions be shelved without debate.

In the meantime, American culture was splitting ever more deeply over this persistent question about Americans holding slaves.  There was no way that the problem was going to simply go away on its own or just be avoided ... as many Americans had earlier held the hope that this might be possible.  But high-sounding principle was easier to achieve than actual plans of action. Unfortunately, such a large part of American culture (especially in the South and parts of the West) was built on ideals requiring the labor services, voluntary or involuntary, of other people.  To undo such a social system was to destroy the cultural ideals of economic and social ‘success’ themselves. >~<