Actually no. It was actually a lot of foreign influence. The whole civil war, north vs. south, thing had little to do with freeing slaves, and more to do with the industrial revolution. The republicans had to wrap it in different flavors in order to keep certain states in the union. Maryland was one, they kept slavery throughout the war.
Keep believing that it wasn't pushed by Lincoln and the repubs. It was. But just like modern day government it tooks lots of wrangling and politicing to get it passed, with lot of concessions. If Jefferson Davis had won, slavery likely would have continued for at least another 20 years. The repubs winning control and passing their agenda, while causing the eventual war (would have happened sooner or later), that how.
Of course the people had a say since they elected the repubs and their agenda. You'd be stupid to think otherwise. But just as the people voted against Gore and kerry, less than they voted for Bush, it meant they had no desire to have their way of life crippled and destroyed so a couple of paid off stupid politicians could put forth an agenda that most people realized would sell ou t the US and move most jobs oveseas where manufacturing would have nearly as tight of controls.