Bobert. Are you saying that the lawful head of the US government should have kow towed to the rebels? Did Jeff Davis ever offer to "sit down" with Lincoln? No, they just started shooting at union soldiers.

Lincoln said that if he could preserve the union by freeing the slaves he would do it. He also said if he could save the union by NOT freeing the slaves at all, he would do it.

The leaders of the south made a bad mistake. The leaders of the north made a bad mistake. The southerners didn't think Lincoln would be elected, and the northerns didn't think the south would leave the union if he was elected.

In any case, the south started the shooting war.

War. the ultimate failure.