What does that matter? It's equally damning. What if Kerry had won and had not even bothered to put himself on the ballot in 11 contiguous states? Wouldn't those people feel even more disenfranchised than if he was on the ballot and they didn't vote for him? Imagine something other than slavery -- like water rights. Imagine Kerry's people all say they are planning on having the federal government take over all water production sources -- rivers, lakes, even home wells and plan on shutting down access to most of them in dry areas to "save the aquifers". Then Kerry runs for President and does not even bother to list himself on the ballot in 11 Western states and wins. Do you not think that would be a problem?
b-u-m-p
The problem in 1860, and 1856 for that matter, was that abolitionists were kept off of the ballots in several of the southern states.
And actually, it isn't all that far from where things are today out West.
Liberals always want to seize control of everything and then let you know how much of your property and your money you can have.
Lincoln was not able to get on those ballots for various reasons, you couldn't just put your name on them...