[groanup]

There were thousands of abolitionist societies in the North. I doubt there was even one in the South considering the treatment of newspapers which dared question slavery.

I think you are wrong. There were a few abolitionists in the New England area. There were a few obscure abolitionists in the South. That's about it. Manumition wasn't a cause in the North. It had nothing to do with the North waging war. Preservation of the Union was the only thing.

[LexBaird]

Preservation of the Union was the only thing.

In this, you are being as absolutist as those who state that preservation of slavery was the only reason for the South to fight. The causes of "Free Soil", abolition, and prevention of the revival of slave importation were all potent political movers in the North. See this: the Republican Party platform of 1860, which was enough of a popular concept to win a plurality in the face of a divided Dem party.

PS, for those of you who claim tariffs were the cause, please note the RP platform called for adjusting them more equitably.