[SampleMan]

If you are going to make that argument, it would appear to go to secession, not Lincoln. Certainly a successful unchallenged secession would have set the model and quickly led to a meaningless national government, or rather group of national governments.

Had the South not taken the secessionist path and instead decided to discuss the issues in the political arena, much might have been achieved concerning the strength of state’s rights. Lincoln being elected hardly meant the end of the South’s political clout.

Slavery had to go away, and its grave moral affliction easily trumped any other merit of the case. By staking state’s rights to slavery, the South greatly wounded state’s rights. It would be like staking parental rights to incest.

[MountainPete]

Ironic, isn't it? The African slave trade was initiated and perpetuated by Muslims and the English and Dutch bought into it.

It's a small world.

[abercrombie_guy_38]

Slavery had to go away, and its grave moral affliction easily trumped any other merit of the case. By staking state’s rights to slavery, the South greatly wounded state’s rights. It would be like staking parental rights to incest.
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Bingo.