the Confederate states call a constitutional convention

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It's March 1861 and since the issue of legality of secession remains in dispute the Democrats work to call a constitutional convention. IIRC there are no real guidelines as to how that can work, but they could try. I think the Constitution provides that avenue for amendment.

The Confederates take the moral, political, and legal high ground they can rightfully never be called rebels or traitors. Absent aggressive military action by the CSA, how many northern legislatures might just say, fine, we'll have a convention. The ACW becomes a knock-down, drag-out among politicians instead of between 17 to 25 year-olds.
 
Months before March 1861 rebels in South Carolina voted to secede and had already attempted to take US facilities by force, only being stopped from Ft Sumter because Anderson moved there. Are you suggesting they would take all that back? I think the only way your "what if" works is if the effort to convene a convention had been done in November 1860 and had included the political leaders of South Carolina.
 
The guidelines for a constitutional convention are in the Constitution, Article V. The legislatures of 2/3 of the states have to call for it, and any amendment has be approved by 3/4 of the states. So there would have to be a degree of concensus, it couldn't just be called by the southern states. Perhaps southern and northern Democrats could agree on the need for dialogue even though they disagreed on the fundamental issue.

It's a potential double-edged sword for the slaveholding/secessionist states. To submit an issue to a forum like a convention, Congress, Supreme Court, or whatever implies willingness to abide by the decision of that forum. As Ned said, it would be a step back from their belief that they were inherently entitled to secede at will. Or worse - proposing an amendment to allow secession - or anything else - implies that that thing is not already constitutional and will not be constitutional unless the amendment is passed and ratified.

Ned's also right that dialogue would have been easier before they started seceding and seizing federal property. You can't really say you've left the Union and still be one of the 2/3 calling for a convention.......
 
The what-if includes secession floated as an amendment to the Constitution. Or include language clarifying and confirming ownership of slaves as a guaranteed right. ISTM that the gesture was better than just firing on Fort Sumter.
 
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