The purpose of spreading slavery to the south and west was not necessarily to dramatically increase the population of slaves, but to match every new free state with another new slave state.
In Delaware there were less than 2,000 slaves.
But Delaware was a reliable slave state vote in the Senate and in Congress.
The goal was expansion to at least retain a Senate edge before secession.
Once a Congressional majority was elected in 1860 which would oppose expansion with a President who would not veto any anti-expansion bill, the Confederacy left and then very soon went to conquer the southwest.
So you think they should be punished for what they were going to do. Sort of a "prior restraint" type of thinking? How very "Minority Report" of you.
Would save a lot of trouble if we would just lock up criminals BEFORE they commit any crimes, don't you think?
I think the Obama regime will come around to your way of thinking in his next term.
You made my point that it was a political problem and not a slavery issue.
Looking to affix blame for the war, many in the press and government gave factual status to the idea that westward expansion of slavery was the primary factor leading to war. They relegated the increasing division of the two economic and political worlds as secondary factors.