Lincoln forced the upper south out because he knew nothing of statesmanship.
I speculate from my weak knowledge that the only chance the South had militarily was at first Manassas when Jackson wanted to pursue and obliterate the Unionist army including DC, right then and there. Jackson had the right wisdom from the get go.
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven.
