-PJ
In response, there are long lists of arguments showing that, yes indeed, slavery and anti-slavery were very important on both sides.
The point I want to bring out here concerns the alleged "supermajority of Northerners" who voted for Corwin.
FLT-bird on Corwin (post #232): "Sure, but a supermajority of Northerners supported it."
So let's look at these numbers.
The House of Representatives vote for Corwin (February 28, 1861) was 133 yes, 65 no, a 2/3 "supermajority".
The breakdown of "yes" votes is:
133 total House votes for Corwin, of which 43% came from Southern Democrats, 20% from Northern Democrats and 37% from Republicans.
In summary:
51% of all Northerners & Westerners voted for Corwin, not a supermajority.
100% of all Southerners in Congress voted for Corwin, unanimous.
100% of all Democrats voted for Corwin, unanimous.
41% of all Republicans voted for Corwin, a minority.
Doughface Democrat President Buchanan signed Corwin.
Republican President Lincoln said he did not try to block Corwin because it made no change to the Constitution as he understood it.