[P-40]

Then why did none of the compromise solutions floated by southern leaders mention tariffs?

Which time frame are you talking about? I'd certainly agree with you that towards the end of negotiations slavery became the central theme. It is hard to sound a rallying cry over tariffs but easy to do so over more tangible examples of your economic livelihood. Not to mention, it discouraged the French and the English from overt support.

The 'war over slavery' folks remind me of the moonbats that claim the war was sold as nothing but WMDs...when there were clearly other reasons given.

[Non-Sequitur]

Which time frame are you talking about? I'd certainly agree with you that towards the end of negotiations slavery became the central theme. It is hard to sound a rallying cry over tariffs but easy to do so over more tangible examples of your economic livelihood.

The southern compromise proposals floated by Crittenden, Toombs, Davis, and Hindman were all proposed in January 1861.

A couple of problems with this arguement that I see. First, it means that the southern cause was built on a lie. Second, if it was about tariffs then I would see that as a more universal rallying cry than slavery. We're constantly told that only a minority owned slaves but taxation would hit everyone, wouldn't it? Third, tariffs were not a problem. The south paid very little of the tariff income to begin with.