The North tried compromise. The South chose war.
Washington Post, Carole Emberton, Perspective
[Editorial], Nov. 1, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ose-war/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.89de17051d21
' . . . In fact,
the secession crisis of 1860-61 was the culmination of a decade-long movement led by ultra-radical pro-slavery “Fire-Eaters” [Emphasis added] . . . '
' . . . The Compromise of 1850 even included a revamped Fugitive Slave Law . . . . . Lands acquired from Mexico, except for the new state of California, would be open to slavery via popular vote. . . '
' . . . Kentucky senator and former vice president John J. Crittenden introduced a proposal to head off the secession crisis . . . . . the Crittenden Compromise, this series of proposed constitutional amendments would have guaranteed slavery’s existence in perpetuity. It reaffirmed previous compromises, like the opening of slavery in all territories south of the 36/30 line (as designed by the Missouri Compromise in 1820), . . . '
' . . . Most importantly, no future amendments could alter these or in any way interfere with slavery, . . . ' *
' . . . For congressional Republicans, this compromise, which would have allowed for slavery’s expansion, was a nonstarter. . . '
Carole Emberton is associate professor of history at the University at Buffalo who specializes in the Civil War era.
* That is, a meta-Constitutional Amendment!