The demand to have continued authority to rape, kidnap, torture of the slave masters is not a higher power, but perhaps a lower power.
Lincoln hoped that they would be touched by the better angels. Alas, the southron’s were convinced by the worser demons.
You are like one of those eco freaks burning down buildings because they hurt GAI or something, or perhaps an anti-fur crusader flinging blood on people who wear coats. Nobody is defending slavery, it is an idea which is incompatible with civilization, but you are waving a bloody shirt for no other reason than to screech an emotional argument at me.
But you do touch upon a point which occurred to me over the weekend. The Southerners did not believe that what they did was wrong. The Northerners did, yet took no action. Which of the two were wickeder, the ones who didn't believe they were doing wrong, or those who stood by and watched it?