What did Jefferson Davis attempt to do to avert a war with the North?

Answer 1

In February of 1861, Confederate President Jefferson Davis sent former Georgia Congressman to Washington DC to try and convince US President James Buchanan to recognize the Confederacy. He did this because in those days a new US president ( Abraham Lincoln) would not take office until March. Now, in the US, a president takes the oath of office in January following the November elections.

Answer 2

Jefferson Davis wanted to avoid a war with the North at almost all costs. He therefore tried to achieve an independent South through political means. In February, 1861 Davis sent former Georgia congressman Martin J. Crawford to Washington to try to convince then Presided James Buchanan to recognize the Confederacy before he left office. Buchanan turned down the request for such a meeting.

After Lincoln took office, John Forsyth of Alabama, a newspaperman, and A. B. Roman of Louisiana joined Martin Crawford in an attempt to persuade Secretary of State Seward to help set up a meeting with President Lincoln. They hoped to have the Confederacy recognized by Lincoln. Their argument would have been that the South was already a de facto nation and wished to have a good relationship with the United States. Seward refused to meet with the three Southerners. Thus no "peaceful" solution was in sight.

Answer 3

Jefferson Davis tried to compromise with the North over the issue of slavery in order to avert the war.