Five Union states did ratify it. Seward was promising New York would also ratify it. Presumably all the slave states would also ratify it, so that brings the total to 22 states that were pretty sure bets on ratification.
What did we need, 3/4ths?
Well out of 33 states, 25 states represent the 3/4ths mark, so only three additional states needed to vote for it to pass it.
And you think it had no hope of passage? With New York and Virginia supporting it, it's passage was virtually guaranteed.
More important than that is the actual 13th Amendment and Lincoln pushed for that far harder than his tepid support for Corwin's mistake.
So tepid that his own secretary of State was leading the effort in the Senate, and so timid that he not only called for it's passage in his first inaugural, he took the additional step of writing letters to the governors of every state to inform them of it's passage of the house and senate.
And that's just the stuff that's not in dispute. If you look into it, you discover he was promoting it behind the scenes in every manner he possibly could, because when it comes down to it, Lincoln's concern was about the money, not about the slaves.
At the time the Corwin Amendment was introduced and voted on in Congress seven Southern states had already announced their secession. Why would they have a vote on ratification? They had already adopted a constitution that protected slavery to an extent undreamed of under the Corwin amendment. So of the states left, 18 would have had to ratify. I don't see where they come from.
So tepid that his own secretary of State was leading the effort in the Senate, and so timid that he not only called for it's passage in his first inaugural, he took the additional step of writing letters to the governors of every state to inform them of it's passage of the house and senate.
Plus added its ratification to the 1864 Republican platform. Plus personally lobbied for its passage among members of Congress. Lincoln's support and intervention was vital for getting the amendment through the lame-duck Congress.
And that's just the stuff that's not in dispute. If you look into it, you discover he was promoting it behind the scenes in every manner he possibly could, because when it comes down to it, Lincoln's concern was about the money, not about the slaves.
Your opinion is duly noted.