Could it have been possible, that many Southerners who were against secession, who sincerely wanted an end to this "particualr institution" of slavery, who wanted a peaceful resolution to this rebellion, may have to come their decision based on the North's unwillingness compromise on the issues of those times and their determination to make war on the South whatever the reason? To me, it seems that this war was going to take place and it was more of a power struggle in Washington with the North's resentment of the South's power and wealth. Could this political "power struggle" in itself, have been one of many factors in Lee's decision and as well many Southerners and Northerners, to cast their lot with the Confederacy? I base this on events leading up to the war and the reaction of many people of both the North and South, to the very fact that Americans were (actually) going to war with one another.

Robert Caudle