Washington Post Columnist Denounces Abolitionist Extremists

Are you worried about American exceptionalism? So is Richard Cohen:

The huge role of religion in American politics is nothing new but always a matter for concern nonetheless. In the years preceding the Civil War, both sides of the slavery issue claimed the endorsement of God. The 1856 Republican convention concluded with a song that ended like this: “We’ve truth on our side/ We’ve God for our guide.” Within five years, Americans were slaughtering one another on the battlefield.

Therein lies the danger of American exceptionalism. It discourages compromise, for what God has made exceptional, man must not alter.

Huh?

1. How is the 1850s Republicans an example of a group advocating for America to be left as is? It was the pro-slavery crowd that was arguing for the preservation of the status quo. Cohen's example contradicts an already dubious thesis.
2. Slavery is the worst issue to reference if you are going to advocate more compromise, because there really is no morally acceptable compromise position regarding slavery. People who have a fetish for political moderation always avoid the topic of slavery. What is the moderate position regarding slavery? Ultimately, the moderate position would tolerate some slavery.
3. The GOP did not start the Civil War. The secessionists did, and they were almost all Democrats.
4. The anti-slavery folks did have truth on their side.

Cohen's example is atrocious.