[mnehring]

I would suggest one read the articles of secession by the Confederate States before answering. (if it wasn’t the primary reason, it was a close second or a catalyst reason).

[RobbyS]

It was the cause of their deep emotion. States Rights actually meant less, or they would not have imposed the fugitive slave law on the northern states. That was a clear violation of state sovereignty.

[CodeToad]

“I would suggest one read the articles of secession by the Confederate States before answering. (if it wasn’t the primary reason, it was a close second or a catalyst reason).”

If you believe that then you should read Lincoln’s inaugural address where he wasn’t going to interfere with slavery so the South had no reason to believe he would.

[ontap]

1858: "I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will for ever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.” (Lincoln, 1953, v3, p145-6)

1858: "We profess to have no taste for running and catching n*****s , at least I profess no taste for that job at all. Why then do Iyield support to a fugitive slave law? Because I do not understand that the Constitution, which guarantees that right, can be supported without it.” (Lincoln, 1953, v3, p317, see also p91 and p94))

1859: "Negro equality! Fudge! How long, in the government of a God, great enough to make and maintain this Universe, shall there continue knaves to vend, and fools to gulp, so low a piece of demagogism as this." (Lincoln, 1953, v3, p399)

1860: “(Douglas’s comment) ‘In the struggle between the white man and the negro,’ assumes that there is a struggle, in which either the white man must enslave the negro or the negro must enslave the white.There is no such struggle! This good earth is plenty broad enough for white man and negro both, and there is no need of either pushing the other off.” (Lincoln, 1953, v4, p20)

1862: (To an audience of free Blacks.) “I think your race suffer very greatly, many of them by living among us, while ours suffer from your presence…I need not recount to you the effects upon white men, growing out of the institution of Slavery. I believe in its general evil effects on the white race.” (Lincoln, 1953, v5, p37-3)

1862:"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. 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... I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free." (Appelman, p29)

How 'bout we see what Lincoln had to say on the matter!!!

[Lysandru]

EXACTLY! Read what the men who decided to start the damned war had to say at the time.

Unfortunately, some people still don't get it even after reading these documents. I actually had some joker argue with me here at FR that the American Civil War had nothing to do with slavery, and to make his point, he quoted exerpts from the original Constitution to me--that talked about slavery.

GODZILLA-sized face palm.

[Tublecane]

“read the articles of secession”

I don’t doubt that it wad about slavery. Not only, but in large part. But not because of what confederate politicians said. How come it is that we should take them at their word in this instance, but not in day to day politics? Just remember they talked in circles, glittering generalities, and cliches guaranteed to rouse the rabble every bit as often as any contemprorary politician.

It could be they were afraid of Northern domination in general and hit upon slavery as a convenient symbol for a panopoly of fears. It certainly is easier to warn the masses of blacks running free than runnaway tariffs and internal improvements.