The real cause of the civil war was nor slavery per say, but the extension of Slavery. Lincon's policy was very simple, Slavery would not be extended out of its bounds and would be left to die. The Fire Eaters knew that Lincoln policy would kill of slavery eventually. Douglas policy of letting terrotries choose was the only policy that could of got votes in the North, bleeding Kansas had whipped up too much passion in the North. For the Fire Eaters this was unacceptable and that ensured that the Democrats were split at the Charlston convention.