[katana]

He must have no idea just how expensive, in 1860 dollars, a slave was. The figure I recall was $2,000 and above. That was probably more than the average large home cost (IIRC Lincoln bought his house in Springfield for around $1,400). So multiply $2 k times several million slaves at fair market value and you can see why the numbers didn't add up.

Besides, while the issue of slavery was one spark to the rebellion and opposition to its extension to any new states or territories was the founding principle of the Republican Party, there were many other economic and political reasons behind secession and war.

The idea of raising funds to buy all the slaves freedom was broached before the war but it would be like adding several trillion $'s to today's national debt. No one besides an imbecile or someone who wanted to bankrupt America would advocate that, now, would they?

[21twelve]

“No one besides an imbecile or someone who wanted to bankrupt America would advocate that, now, would they?”

Hey, that reminds me. Any idea when Obama will bring up the idea of reparations again? I’m guessing after the 2010 elections.