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"But it was demanded by the slaveholders, with the threat of the dissolution of the national Union that had been forged in the fires of the Revolution."

Not exactly accurate.

The following is an extract from the sermon of Rev. Dr. N. Adams, of the Essex Street Church, Boston, delivered on Fast Day, January 4, 1861:

“We at the North are certainly responsible before God for the existence of slavery in our land. The Committee of the Convention which framed the Constitution of the United States, consisted of Messrs. Rutledge, of South Carolina, Randolph, of Virginia, and three from the Free States, viz: Messrs. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, Gorham, of Massachusetts, and Ellsworth, of Connecticut.

“They reported, as a section for the Constitution, that no tax or other duty should be laid on the migration or importation of such persons as the several States should think proper to admit; not that such migration or importation should be prohibited. This was referred by the Convention to a committee, a majority of whom being from the Slave States, they reported that the Slave Trade be abolished after 1800, and that a tax be levied on imported slaves.

But in the Convention, the Free States of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, voted to extend the trade eight years, and it was accordingly done; by means of which it is estimated there are now at least three hundred thousand more slaves in the country than there would otherwise have been.”

“A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable.”
-—Thomas Jefferson

PeaRidge quoting Rev Adams: "But in the Convention, the Free States of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, voted to extend the trade eight years, and it was accordingly done; by means of which it is estimated there are now at least three hundred thousand more slaves in the country than there would otherwise have been."

First of all, that figure of 300,000 additional slaves is roughly 8% of the total, so a less than decisive number.

Second, we need to remember that in 1776, slavery was lawful in all 13 colonies.
By 1787 only two northern states had fully abolished slavery, and five more had begun to phase it out, quite gradually.
Two northern states (New York and New Jersey) had not yet even begun to abolish slavery.

Point is: in 1787 there was not unanimous Northern agreement that slavery should be abolished, and many were willing to compromise with Southern slave-holders in order to achieve a successful Constitution.

So, the good Reverend Adams' point in January 1861 may, or may not, be accurate, but it's irrelevant to events of his day.

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By the way, I'm very interested to note that PeaRidge seems to be taking on some of the duties our old FRiend rustbucket.

If you prove as congenial and trustworthy-accurate as rusty, it'll be fun seeing your posts...