[hoosierham]

The important point is why not let the states withdraw from the union?
Especially if that was the will of their people as expressed through their elected representatives?

[BroJoeK]

hoosierham: "The important point is why not let the states withdraw from the union?"

So, I'm guessing maybe you had Covid, or some other valid excuse, and missed the class where we discussed this in great detail, right?

The shorter version is: of course, the Union under Democrat President Buchanan did "let the states withdraw".
President Buchanan did nothing while Deep South Fire Eaters:

1. Declared secession, issuing Reasons for Secession documents which blamed mostly Republican anti-slavery positions.

2. Declared their new Confederacy.

3. Wrote and provisionally adopted their new Constitution.

4. Illegally seized dozens of major US Federal properties, including forts, ships, arsenals and mints.

5. Began to raise a Confederate army of 500,000 at a time when the entire Union army was around 17,000 most scattered in small forts out west.

6. Passed provisional tariffs.

7. Provoked war by threatening Union officials, seizing Federal properties and demanding the surrender of Union troops in Texas, South Carolina and Florida.

The United States only responded militarily after Confederates started war at Fort Sumter, SC, April 12, 1861.
Even then, the Union's first response was minimal -- no declaration of war, rebellion or insurrection.
Only after Confederates formally declared war on the United States -- May 6, 1861 -- did the Union begin seriously ramping up for major conflict.

Little known fact: in the Civil War's first year, more battles were fought in Union states & territories than in the Confederacy, including in Union New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia and Maryland.