In regards to compromise, I believe that by 1860 the distrust between the North and South was so high that no compromise was believable.
For example as a compromise Democrats agree to build a wall on the border in exchange for amnesty. Now many Conservatives might think that it eould be worth amnesty to get a wall, but none of them would agree to the deal because they kno we the Democrats won’t keep theit side of the
Dred Scott and the Fugitive Slave Act were already the law of the land. What else could Big Cotton want?