[rockrr]

And you would pretend that they were equal offenders when in truth the slave ownership of northern states would be measured as a tiny fraction of a percent while the lowest percentage of any would-be confederate state was Virginia at 26%.

Every northern state had either outlawed the practice or had a defined timeline to emancipation. ZERO southern states could say the same.

Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address: "I have no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."

Lincoln spoke those words to assure the southern states that they didn't need to do anything stupid. They did it anyway.

[Garth Tater]

"And you would pretend that they were equal offenders when in truth the slave ownership of northern states would be measured as a tiny fraction of a percent while the lowest percentage of any would-be confederate state was Virginia at 26%."

I've pretended to nothing. I've simply quoted the Declaration of Independence and Abraham Lincoln to support my contention that the Southern states did have the right to secede from the Union and that the war was not primarily about slavery. But you just keep on putting words in my and other FReepers' mouths and making up and ignoring facts as you merrily express your ignorance.


Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley - August 22, 1862:

"The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free. Yours, A. Lincoln."