[JasonC]

The south wanted the supreme court through Dred Scott to impose a spread of property in slaves everywhere, and to enforce it even in northern states that had outlawed slavery. Including Lincoln's Illinois. It was this invasion of Illinois's sovereign rights that, in Lincoln's opinion, invalidated the Scott decision. The south went to war rather than see a man seated as president who would not uphold the Scott decision.

The south went to war not for state's rights, but to enforce the supreme court trampling on them, in the name of slavery. Sure they waved state's rights around like a flag. But they didn't practice them, and they'd kill rather than recognize the right of Illinois to free a man in Illinois.

[GeronL]

Didn’t the Confederacy strengthen their central government more and more during the war?

[central_va]

<>Hey Jason, History quiz, who made the following statements regarding slavery?

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

[Ditto]

Sure they waved state's rights around like a flag. But they didn't practice them...

Add to that the Fugitive Slave Act that forced not only the states, but even individual citizens to serve as federal law enforcement officers against their will.

The Slave Power did not give a damn about states rights and certainly gave no thought to individual rights.

[manc]

Jason you only have to read journals of those who fought to see that it was not about slavery and Lincoln could not have been more clearer about him not giving a crap about slavery

it was a smart political move to keep Europe out of the war and to make the war about keeping the union, when he saw that more and more in the north said let them go their way that is when he made the move on slavery