What efforts did abolitionists make to find political solutions to the question of slavery? how successful were they initially?

There were some policies where in the balance of slave and Free State was kept.  A good example of this was the Missouri Compromise.  However, When the Kansas Nebraska Act came it threatened that balance since states can now decide among themselves. Eventually it took the American Civil War to end slavery in the United States.

representative government

definitely a for sure. ill see and update if i get the answer