Undeterred by that setback, López decided to plan a new filibuster and to focus his recruiting effort on the Southern United States. As a supporter of slavery himself, López realized the advantages for the South of an independent Cuba. He and some Southerners hoped that Cuba would become a strong partner in slavery and perhaps, like Texas, join the Union as a slave state. He moved his headquarters to New Orleans and tried to gain popular support by recruiting influential men of the South to join his expedition. He solicited the military help of Senator Jefferson Davis, who had distinguished himself in the Battle of Buena Vista, by offering him $100,000 and "a very fine coffee plantation." Davis, to the great relief of his wife, turned him down but recommended one of his friends from the Mexican–American War, Major Robert E. Lee. Lee thought seriously about López's offer but eventually also decided not to become involved.