War measures hardly seem a proper method for judging.
Otherwise Lincoln’s abrogation of habeas corpus, shutting down newspapers, arresting the Maryland legislature, and similar actions would be the standard for judging the Union.
No.CSA only existed as a “war measure,” so it’s the only measure we got. And Yankee Leviathan in a blow-by-blow comparison shows that the CSA/southern states exceeded all of these actions in the south, shut down any abolitionist writings at all, blocked all mails, abrogated habeas corpus, and engaged in outright confiscation.
South far worse.