But Walt what other problems would there be in the 1830s and 1840s? I was assured this nation was plugging right along until the evil South decided to secede because of slavery and not money!!! I am completely shocked that an organization that prides itself in pointing out government waste and spending would get behind such a man as lincoln and Clay with their American System, which in every way shape and form argued that it was the government's responsibility to take care of us and build our infrastructure for us, and had done such a great job in Illinois, not to mention New York!! < /sarcasm>
We are assured by the taker of the 1850 census that:
A) property in slaves was the largest species of property in the country
B) There were more slave holders in the south than there were real property holders in the north.
Money in slaves was the issue, if you like.
Walt