They would have had plenty of reason to lie about it being about something other than slavery.
Do I believe they were being economically exploited by the Northern states? Yes, of course. The evidence is irrefutable.
I'll repeat, if you don't believe it was about slavery, then post an affirmation that you agree with every point made in these declarations.
Do I believe the Northern states violated the Fugitive Slave Clause of the US Constitution? Yes, of course they did. That too is irrefutable.
Just wow. Would you have rescued the slaves if you were in a position to do so?
They were against the spread of slavery to the western territories possessed by the United States. They were not for abolishing slavery. You do understand that these are two different things, right?
positive legislation, prohibiting its existence or extension therein.
Why? Most people - as in the overwhelming majority - did not own slaves. The issue of slavery hardly touched them. What did touch them directly however were tariff and taxation policies which sucked money out of their wallets and lined the pockets of Northern industrialists.
I'll repeat, if you don't believe it was about slavery, then post an affirmation that you agree with every point made in these declarations.
What are you driving at here? Do I believe the Northern states violated the Fugitive Slave Clause of the US Constitution? Yes, I do. If you want something else be specific.
Just wow. Would you have rescued the slaves if you were in a position to do so?
What do you mean "just wow"? They plainly did violate the fugitive slave clause of the US Constitution. What would I have done had I lived in the mid 19th century? I have no way of knowing that. I would have a very different worldview had I been born and raised in that time. We are all products of our time and place. We don't pop out of the womb with brains full of knowledge. What we are taught, those around us, what the world is like, what information and influences we have shape all of us.
positive legislation, prohibiting its existence or extension therein.
Yes, they were against THE SPREAD of slavery to new territories. They were not against the EXISTENCE of slavery where it already existed. Do I need to post all the quotes from Lincoln about this? He said it many times. Publicly. So did just about every other Republican who was around then.