My concept may be to complicated to explain but I will try one more time.

The Civil War was not over Slavery, It was over CONTROL.

Slavery was a Part of a bigger issue. It was not the whole issue nor was it the only issue in how the Government effected the lives of people or the power that it would hold over peoples lives today.

The American Civil War was the death of the republic form of Government which was envisioned by the founders of this country. With the establishment of a strong central Government by the Civil War the people of one state are now subject to the collective majority of the will of the people in other states. That was not how the Constitution was set up.

Slavery was embodied in the Constitution as a right to be controlled by the State, NOT the federal Government nor Congress, and not by the majority of people outside the borders of an state. The People of New York could not tell the people of South Carolina what to do any more that I can keep someone else from expressing their views as a rights under the 1st Amendment.

Now in modern day terms. I detest Abortion that is a morality issue the same as it is not right to enslave someone. Will I go to war to end abortion? I might, but probably no I wouldn't.

Now on the other hand if the United States government threaten to abridge the Bill of Right and repeal any on the first 5 Amendments to the Constitution, then I and a lot of others would be fighting mad. Especially over the 2nd Amendment.

The issue of slavery was mearly the "Vehicle" by which to obtain that control by ex Whigs, the radical republican and abolishionist. Once you ride a bus to town and the bus is of no more use to you, you get off. Just like the Republican did in after the war was over. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton still are trying to ride that bus.

Get my point?

In my opinion Col. Oates, in his comment which you quoted, was an Idiot. He could only have spoken for himself and did not speak for MY grandfathers. He certainly did not read and compare over 1,000 letters to write a book on the subject like Dr. McPherson has. And I don't think Col. Oates ever talked to my Grandfathers either.