I have long felt that the Civil War was an enormous and unnecessary tragedy, but one whose blame lies more proximately at the feet of feckless Southern politicians and James Buchanan. I am not sure that Lincoln could have averted it and remained true to his principles. I firmly believe that slavery as institution was a moribund in the U.S. by 1860. While the Civil War accelerated its end, it may have made the transition more painful for everyone, including the former slaves and at an enormous price in blood and treasure.
Well stated. Add to that, that when the south began its move toward secession, they were still as free as anyone else in the nation (excepting those, of course, whom they subjugated through slavery). Nothing had changed except a presidential election. They were just as free the day after the election as they were the day before.
It was they who initiated the downward spiral to hell, they who struck the first blow, they who brought the nation to war. What Lincoln did was react to their terms with the intent of keeping the nation intact.
Oh, yes. I forgot. All Lincoln had to do was let the South go and all this could have been avoided. So that absolves them of the blame and places it squarely on his shoulders.
Do I really need the sarc tag for that last statement?