Actually, I'm measuring it by the worries and concerns of the Southern states when it comes to what they thought Lincoln would do if he became President.
I'm aware of Lincoln's statements about preserving the Union whether or not he could end slavery.
What doesn't get as much air time is the Southern states insistence that Lincoln not allow slavery in the new states as they were admitted to the Union. No ifs, ands or buts about it. And THAT is why they seceded.
That is simply inarguable.
They certainly did not believe him.
What doesn't get as much air time is the Southern states insistence that Lincoln not allow slavery in the new states as they were admitted to the Union.
Not sure if this interpretation is consistent with Lincoln's proposed 13th amendment. Lincoln himself said during his campaign for President that a state had a right to chose to give up slavery. Presumably he would for the sake of consistency presume a state had the same right in reverse.
No ifs, ands or buts about it. And THAT is why they seceded.
I keep pointing out that their reasons for seceding are immaterial. They had a right to leave, and the Union didn't have a right to force them to stay. At the time, Slavery was legal in the Union, so it is really irrelevant to their right to leave. They had that right, regardless of their reasons for wanting to.