“Confederacy had started and declared war on the United States.”
So, you’re saying the South invaded the North and attempted to capture Washington?
That’s not what the history books say, btw.
Last I checked Sumpter is in South Carolina, not DC.
I am certain you already know that secessionists in Deep South states committed many acts of ever-increasing rebellion, insurrection, "domestic violence" and war against the United States in the exactly six-months between Lincoln's election on November 6, 1860 and the Confederacy's formal declaration of war on the United States, May 6, 1861.
These included forceful seizures of dozens of Federal properties (i.e., forts, ships, arsenals, armories & mints), threats against Federal officials, and shooting at Union ships.
Confederate acts of war culminated in their military assault on Fort Sumter, April 12, and formal Declaration of War, May 6.
After formally declaring war, the Confederacy immediately began assaults in slave-holding Union states, especially Missouri but including Virginia (before it seceded) and eventually Kentucky & Maryland.
Bottom line: there is no possible question of "the South seceding peacefully" because they refused to go peacefully.
As was their nature, the Slave Power was always assertive, aggressive, expansionist, violent and uncompromising in its demands.
Fortunately, today everything is different, and we never see such traits in our pro-Confederate FRiends, right?
;-)