"The issue had been going on for decades, with the South taking concillatory positions on tariffs, yankee protectionism and other issues."
No what was going on for years was the threatening of secession if a duely elected Republican was elected. The South whined and threatend, election after election...and when The United States elected Lincoln the Southerners didn't like representative government. They made plan to secede right after the election.
In affect, it was the Southerners who brought a tyranny to the Union...and you should be thanking your lucky Johny Reb stars that the South lost. Otherwise, the Europeans would have come in and tore a Balkanized North America apart.
Oh wow, I'm thrilled. I'm sure my ggggrandfather that was killed in battle; and his wife that was left to raise 3 children alone; and all the other men and women that were killed in battle or murdered; and the women and children that were raped; and the southerners that starved thanks to the union army destroying their crops and slaughtering their livestock; and those left homeless when towns, convents and churches were leveled by union armies; and the preachers forced to pray for Lincoln; and all those that had their gold, silver, money, jewels and other valuable property stolen by union soldiers; and those that lost their land after the war - I'm sure they will all be forever warmed and encouraged by you words. I'm sure that they all are comforted by your concern, and gladly welcome the sacrifices made in the effort to preserve a union they wanted no part of.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I, and all other Southerners can go to our graves, understanding that our emotions and grief are misplaced, and that our ancestors deserved to die in the most inhumane method possible for simply believing "[t]hat whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
We will forever be gratefull, and would like to erect a shrine in yours and Lincoln's honour, so that we can worship you till the end of our putrid existence. Thank you.