"At least one study has been published based on Northern news editorials printed early in 1861. These clearly show Northern opinion in favor of letting the Southern states go peacefully." Alan, in those days I do not have any sense that news editors consulted polls in citing their opinions. Polls are a recent phenomenon, and the editors of those times used their pulpit to state their own views, hoping to pursuade the public to their views. Opposing editors, or at times their targets, sometimes engaged in fisticuffs, or worse. Did this study give any thought to letters to the editor, to the extent that any were published? I don't remember the details, but did not lincoln write to Horace Greeley, asking for his support, or at least disagreeing with him? stan