Replies

First through shifting of taxes owed from the War For Independence.

How did they do that?

The government didn't support that. They sent troops to put down Brown and let Virginia try him on those ridiculous treason charges.

Thirdly through Northern merchants putting all of their money behind getting certain trade laws inimicable to Southern economic interests passed through Congress.

For example?

Lastly through illegal invasion of the Southern States by military force.

There was nothing illegal and there was no invasion. One does not invade ones own country.

How did the Northern States get tax burdens from the War for Independence shifted? They went to Congress and whined about how paying those taxes would bankrupt the Northern States. So the Congress went and shifted a lot of the tax burden on the South "to help out" the Northern States. This occured in the late 1700's or early 1800's. Then Congress later enacted a "protective tariff" which enriched the North at the expense of other sections vis a vis the South.

As for your other viewpoint about the South starting the war, I offer this as proof of Lincoln's perfidity and badgering of the South into war.

"It was his Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Wells, who wrote: " It was very inmportant that the Rebels strike the first blow in the conflict."

Lincoln assembled the squadron of warships and tugs, as recommended by Captain G.V. Fox. He placed Fox in command and sent the fleet to Charleston.

The reinforcement had been outlined by Fox: "I simply propose three tugs convoyed by light-draft men of war ... The first tug to lead in empty, to open their fire"

Before Fox could carry out the plan, the Southerners bombarded and captured the fort.

Did the failure of the expedition distress Lincoln? Not at all. On May 1, 1861, he wrote Fox: " I sincerely regret that the failure of the attempt to provision Fort Sumter should be a source of annoyance to you ...
You and I both anticipated that the cause of the country would be advanced by making the attempt to provision Fort Sumter, even if it should fail; and it is no small consolation now to feel that our anticipation is justified by the result."

So if you were to have asked a Confederate Soldier why they seceeded, he would have told you these reasons:

1. Our States entered the Union with the understanding that they had the right to withdraw when membership proved unhappy.

2. We were tired of being gypped by unfair tariff laws.

3> we were fed up with insane abuse from South-hating fanatics.

4. We bought our slaves from the North, only to learn later that it proposed to free them without a penny of compensation.

5. Northern fanatics had inspired murderous slave uprisings. Why wait for more?

6. A rabidly-sectional party was in control at Washington.

We had no idea of making war. We planned to relieve the North from further association with us.

Sorry but your tired assed old arguments won't wash here. I know who the real culprits were - and they weren't from the Southern States!