[Non-Sequitur]

When he was elected, for many in the South the die was cast for secession.

If tariffs were such a big issue then why didn't any of the 1860 Democrat platforms take a position on them? They were all over slavery but silent on the big 'T'. Why?

[riverdawg]

In 1860 the Democratic Party was hopelessly split, between North and South, much like the Democratic Party in the 1960’s. The party platform may have reflected this split, unable to reconcile competing sectional interests.