Our founders punted on the issue at great cost to the ultimate shaping of our Republic.
In their defense, it was probably too great an issue to handle in addition to the grest task of building a nation.
Agree 100%.
In 1789 I think there was a choice between a Union accepting slavery and no Union at all.
I think the Founders made the right choice. Especially when they pretty much all agreed the problem would go away by itself.
They chose what seemed like a reasonable path at the time. They restricted importing slaves by ship in 1794, just 6 years after the Constitution was ratified.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_Trade_Act_of_1794
After 20 years, importing slaves was banned.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_Prohibiting_Importation_of_Slaves
It was reasonably thought these measures would lead to an end of slavery without needing a war. That proved to be a false hope, but it was a reasonable approach.