[WhowasGustavusFox]

Due to the recession in the North of 1857-58, and the excessive infrastructure spending by Congress, the Federal Debt had swelled to unprecedented levels. And with 98% of the US Treasury dependent on tariff revenue, and that being fed by Southern produced goods (gone as of Feb., 1861) to the tune of at the very least 65% of the total revenue, on March 4, 1861 the Federal government was broke. The Southern states seceded for a variety of reasons, but Lincoln, hounded by bankers and businessmen, brought the fight South to protect the US Treasury.

[Restorer]

And with 98% of the US Treasury dependent on tariff revenue, and that being fed by Southern produced goods (gone as of Feb., 1861) to the tune of at the very least 65% of the total revenue, on March 4, 1861 the Federal government was broke.

There were never any tariffs on Southern-produced goods. Tariffs are on imports, not exports.

Had secession succeeded, the US would have had a balance of payments problem, since cotton formed the majority of exports, but it is very doubtful the seceded states (with 1/4 of the population) consumed even a majority of the imported goods which had tariffs on them.

[4CJ]

Due to the recession in the North of 1857-58, and the excessive infrastructure spending by Congress, the Federal Debt had swelled to unprecedented levels.

You're one of the few I've seen post anything about the economic conditions of the depression/recession, which hit the Northern economy hard, and left the Southern economy virtually untouched.

Who protests raising tax rates? Taxpayers or Freeloaders?
Who advocates higher taxes? Taxpayers or Freeloaders?
Who protests welfare payments? Taxpayers or freeloaders?

To hear the yankees talk, they demanded that they pay higher taxes, and the confederates protested about receiving too many benefits. And fought a war of subjugation to force us to accept their generousity. < /sarcasm >

[Ditto]

And with 98% of the US Treasury dependent on tariff revenue, and that being fed by Southern produced goods (gone as of Feb., 1861) to the tune of at the very least 65% of the total revenue....

ROTFLMAO. Are you telling us that the tariffs were on exports, not imports?

Do you know what a tariff is?