[WhiteSox1837]

Such a long reply, yet you failed to answer my principle question. Perhaps you missed it, in that case I shall repeat it. Other than the threat of abolition how was the federal goverment trampling the rights of the southern states? Of the war was not about slavery why were all the Northern states free states and yet the southern states slave states?

[Badeye]

Alas, my ‘long reply’ contains the answer, and you fail to understand it.

No problem, I run into it with anyone North of the Ohio River that hasn’t studied the era.

[MamaTexan]

Of the war was not about slavery why were all the Northern states free states and yet the southern states slave states?

If the federal government had absolute authority in the matter of slavery, why were the States even 'allowed' to choose?