[trek]

Most import were industrial goods. At the time northern manufacturers were at a significant competitive disadvantage to British and other European manufacturers. They used the power of the Federal Government to levy onerous tarrifs on these imports. This profited merchants and manufacturers in the north at the expense of largely poor farmers in the south (most of whom owned no slaves).

[faireturn]

So? Emphasis or not, Lincolns words above do not support your theory that "Slavery was not the cause of the war." It merely says that, to Lincoln, preserving the union was paramount. He does not address the cause.

And I see you are unable to answer my other question on what 'states rights' were being violated.

trek wrote: Most import were industrial goods. At the time northern manufacturers were at a significant competitive disadvantage to British and other European manufacturers. They used the power of the Federal Government to levy onerous tarrifs on these imports.

Hmm, -- to you, "onerous tariffs" made war necessary. Weird idea.

This profited merchants and manufacturers in the north at the expense of largely poor farmers in the south (most of whom owned no slaves).

If tariffs were that bad, a black market in smuggled goods would have solved the problem. -- Nope, your idea that civil war came because of onerous taxes just does not wash.

Try again.

[Non-Sequitur]

Most import were industrial goods.

Like what?

This profited merchants and manufacturers in the north at the expense of largely poor farmers in the south (most of whom owned no slaves).

These poor southern farmers were big consumers of imports were they?