central_va: "Americans? I would say that in 1861 every southerner would have said cram your Union. The fearless leader of the Yankees, the Illinois Butcher™, stated he would have prevented the war if he could by freeing none of the slaves. No, in my opinion, the war of Northern aggression was simply a naked act of Federal power over sovereign states. Since slavery is not an issue anymore, what justification would the Feds use to crush a seceding state(s) now? "
Americans? The majority of Americans then lived in the northern states.
The South seceded to prevent the possibility of slavery's abolition. But secession did not start the Civil War -- the South firing on Fort Sumter did.
Once war began, the North's goals were first restoring the Union, later abolishing slavery.
On your final question, I'd say the issue of succession was settled in the Civil War, along with slavery.
Fairy tale.
On your final question, I'd say the issue of succession was settled in the Civil War, along with slavery.
Don't bank on it.