Throughout the first half of the 19th century, (as I understand it) US politics was dominated by the struggle for control of the Senate between the "free" and "slave" states. For example, Missouri compromise. So I wonder, were there any voices in the north who said "Good -- the southern states want to secede, let them secede and be done with it." And after the war, were there any who said "It would have been better to let them secede."?