[Bull Snipe]

But in one of those Constitutions it was legal for a state to end slavery. By 1860 15 states had done so. In the other Constitution, states did not have that right.

[jeffersondem]

“But in one of those Constitutions it was legal for a state to end slavery.”

In the United States Constitution it was legal for not just a state to abolish slavery, it was legal for the entire United States to abolish slavery peacefully through the amendment process which was thoughtfully included and agreed to by everyone.

But you and I have no entirely satisfactory explanation why no federal legislator - south or north - ever introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to peacefully abolish slavery in the United States prior to Lincoln’s invasion of the South.

A nation that has the constitutional ability to peacefully abolish slavery - and refuses to use it - is no better off than a nation that doesn’t have the constitutional ability.

[BroJoeK]

jeffersondem to DoodleDawg: "The Confederate president fought to protect and defend his nation’s constitution and, arguably, President Lincoln did the same thing.
Both constitutions enshrined slavery."

Bull Snipe to jeffersondem: "But in one of those Constitutions it was legal for a state to end slavery.
By 1860 15 states had done so.
In the other Constitution, states did not have that right."

I count 19 free-states in 1860, including Kansas.
By war's end in 1865 there were 23 free-states, 13 slave-states.
During the war three Union slave-states abolished slavery on their own, and one new free-state was admitted (Nevada).
Eight of 11 Confederate states ratified the US 13th Amendment in 1865.
Three of those -- Virginia, Louisiana and Tennessee -- ratified the US 13th Amendment before RE Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865.