[AmericanExceptionalist]

I am not interested in re-fighting the first American Civil War. I am not interested in discussing the slavery of black Americans.

I will say this: States Rights are an important concept. Somewhere along the line, the federal government decided that it was everybody's boss, and that is a shame.

My own thoughts, exactly.

It is a bit like the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s: There were good reasons for opposing both sides.

As a strong believer in the fundamental concepts of freedom and liberty, I find it difficult to engender warm and fuzzy feelings toward those who wished to continue the odious institution of slavery.

But I am equally repelled by the heavy-handed approach of the Unionists, who desired an overweening federal government...

[rockrr]

And I am even more repelled by the heavy-handed approach of the confeds who preferred the art of war to the rule of law.

[BroJoeK]

AmericanExceptionalist: "But I am equally repelled by the heavy-handed approach of the Unionists, who desired an overweening federal government... "

In 1861 Unionists did not support "an overweening federal government", they simply opposed the Slave-holders unilateral, unjustified declarations of secession, and their declaration of war on the United States.

All our current "overweening federal government" began about 100 years ago, with the Progressive era passage of 16th and 17th Amendments.