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Buchanan would not have needed to start a war. A threat, such as Andrew Jackson delivered, would have been enough to make the hotheads back down and more importantly it would have emboldened the more sensible Southerners to counsel against the madness. Once the insanity was loose and the rebs attacked, Lincoln had no choice but a resort to armed force.

I disagree with your entire statement from beginning to end.

First of all, a threat would not have 'backed down' anyone as is evidenced by the historical fact that Lincoln's invasion didn't have that effect.

Second, to use terms such as 'hotheads', 'madness' and 'insanity' in the context of people seeking relief from an oppressive, tyrannical government is directly equivalent to the LSM using similar descriptive terms about the present day Tea Party which is advocating the exact same thing.

Third, it was the 'sensible Southerners' that realized that the South could never have a equal and friendly relationship with the yankee politicians and their corrupt political machine.

And finally, your last statement is totally absurd and false. It is so obama like that I'm surprised that you didn't start with the obamaism, "Let me be clear.."

First of all, a threat would not have 'backed down' anyone as is evidenced by the historical fact that Lincoln's invasion didn't have that effect.

My opinion is that if Buchanan had been firm when South Carolina stood alone, no other states would have joined them. South Carolina would be isolated and backed down like she did in Jackson's day.

Second, to use terms such as 'hotheads', 'madness' and 'insanity' in the context of people seeking relief from an oppressive, tyrannical government is directly equivalent to the LSM using similar descriptive terms about the present day Tea Party which is advocating the exact same thing.

Disagreements over tariff policy do not constitute oppression. The impossibility of a desire to take human "property" into the territories do not equal oppression. The election of a president you don't like does not constitute oppression.

Third, it was the 'sensible Southerners' that realized that the South could never have a equal and friendly relationship with the Yankee politicians and their corrupt political machine.

The secessionist merely wanted any Yankee corruption out of the way of their own corrupt political machine. The secession process was often a farce.

And finally, your last statement is totally absurd and false. It is so Obama like that I'm surprised that you didn't start with the obamaism, "Let me be clear.."

What else could Lincoln do? He could not let a gang of usurping political crooks destroy the government of Washington.

My favorite Lincoln quote is;

“If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”…Abraham Lincoln.

Third, it was the 'sensible Southerners' that realized that the South could never have a equal and friendly relationship with the yankee politicians and their corrupt political machine.

So their solution was to start the war that ended in their destruction. That was stupid of them.