During Miner's terms, slavery was still widespread in the South and West, but Northern states were already reflecting anti-slavery views. Miner presented his first anti-slavery proposal to the House on May 13, 1826.12 He introduced his plan to immediately end the slave trade in the District of Columbia and gradually abolish slavery in the capitol over a period of about ten years. Miner thought that immediate, nationwide abolition was impossible, but he hoped that if the District of Columbia could successfully abolish slavery, it would act as a “lever” to influence the rest of the country to do likewise.13 Congress adjourned before he could elaborate on the topic. He tried to readdress the plan in December 1826, but he was encouraged not to speak because the topic provoked excitement and irritation, especially among the Southern representatives.14