[RWGinger]

I understand your view and I know there were many who fought for the CSA who never owned slaves or even felt it was right to own them.
But you can’t escape that having the right to own slaves was one of the central issues. if the sountern states had not owned slaves do you think the war of Northern Agreesion would have been fought?

I think the right attitude might be that one should look at the times then and what was going on in the rest of the world. WE can admit that in today’s world We would not let slavery happen but we can’t change what was then.
Nothing should be taken away from our people who fought, in the largest majority of cases to defend OUR homeland.

I tell people who try to criticize me and tell me I must be a racist because I honor those who fought for us they are ignorant of the people who actually did fight for the South. I am proud to honor them
screw the haters

[onedoug]

Now we all be slaves.

[PeaRidge]

You offered: “But you can’t escape that having the right to own slaves was one of the central issues. if the sountern (sic) states had not owned slaves do you think the war of Northern Agreesion (sic) would have been fought?”

You must not be aware of the fact that on the way to fight the first battle of the war, Bull Run (Manassas), that invading Union Brig. Gen. Irwin McDowell and his troops passed the slave pens in Washington, D. C., which held thousands of slaves.

Why did the Union Command not start there?

There are many records of this. Here is one.

http://books.google.com/books?id=VQBVqYGnyfIC&pg=PT21&lpg=PT21&dq=slave+pens+washington+dc&source=bl&ots=ICMHTGks2n&sig=sdjc4pWzH4DnlkF9KU2qyhB_j3k&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-t1rUsySFcjKkAfTtYCwAg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=slave%20pens%20washington%20dc&f=false

The issue of slavery did not cause the war to begin. So, one must wonder what was the real cause.

[Venturer]

When you remember the Slaves you have to remember the Northern Ship owners who profited by their shipment, and the ways and means they used for the shipping.
You also have to remember who gathered them from Africa and then sold them.

[CodeToad]

“if the sountern states had not owned slaves “

The North had slaves at the time as well. They also had laws that relegated freed blacks to that of third class citizen that could not vote or even immigrate. In fact, Lincoln sought to ensure freed blacks could not enter Illinois.

[Triple]

Slavery was legal in the “Union” before, during and after the civil war.

The EP did not free a single slave under Union control.

Slavery was certainly one of the big issues, but economics, distribution of political control, and States rights were the themes under which slavery was the detail.

The war was after secession. The Fedgov tolerated slavery, but not secession.