[ATX 1985]

Well, part of the South being a sovereign nation was so that they could continue to own slaves. We didn't need to amend the Constitution, the Supreme Court could have ruled the practice of owning American-born slaves un-Constitutional. If this was done, the States would have still illegally seceded and there probably still would have been an attack on a Federal Fort.

I think the War was all about slavery. The population of slaves was higher then freemen in many States, the agrarian economy was clearly built on slave labor in many communities.

[central_va]

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 everywhere could be free.

            -- King Abraham the Butcher

[prairiebreeze]

Slavery was not the original issue though. I don’t want to say slavery was secondary, but states rights, trade restrictions were what the original score was.

[Notary Sojac]

You will find several Freepers who go on at great length about "The cause of the Civil War was not slavery".

I find it helpful when faced with that argument to quote the Mississippi Declaration of Causes of Secession:

Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth.

These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization.

[AlbertusMagnus]

Just a note. The Founders considered the several States to be Sovereign independently. That's why the Declaration of Independence refers to "Free and Independent States" (plural, not singular.) A "State" is not by definition a sub-jurisdiction of a larger political entity. A State is a country, a nation ("Nation-State" or "City-State" to use historical examples). Legally, the United States is a confederation of nations or states. Therefore, the Southern States are independently sovereign, the same as the Northern States. The question of the Civil War centers on one issue: Is secession legal? If it is, then the war prosecuted by Lincoln would be illegal under the Constitution. And if the States are sovereign, then secession is in fact legal.