[BroJoeK]

PeaRidge: "Within six weeks, and due to the advent of a new tariff and a new political platform, the argument was now between the establishment Union and a progressive South on the verge of economic explosion.
The issue of slavery was now a non-issue for these people."

No, there was no "argument".
Instead there was rebellion, insurrection, "domestic violence", invasion of Federal properties and eventually war against the United States, meaning treason for those who supported the Confederacy.

"Progressive South" in those days was a contradiction in terms, unless you wish to define protecting slavery as "progressive".

If so, it simply proves beyond reasonable doubt how much of a Democrat you really are.

[rockrr]

Thanks for the inadvertent laugh. I don't usually bother with pea's posts but your rejoinder to one made me take a peek.

Up and until December of 1860, the political disagreements and Congressional battles were about the balance of power between the agricultural South, and the Mercantilist North and Midwest.

"Mercantilist North"? Yea, off by a hundred years or so!

argument was now between the establishment Union and a progressive South on the verge of economic explosion.

The only reason the south ventured into anything beyond cottage industry was because they had foolishly committed themselves to a disastrous course of action and too late realized that they lacked the capacity to support themselves and their would-be confederacy. Up until 1860 they were happy to outsource virtually every commodity they needed.