Hi George,

This is a lively group, I do appreciate the dialogue! I think it is important that we acknowledge opposing viewpoints. That being said, I'll offer another interpretation of events for you to consider.

You wrote:

"Still the South left peacefully, that was their right."

--The right of secession? When had that been established?

You wrote:

"Lincoln started a war that was his choice. He could have simply left the south go."

--Lincoln sent a ship to resupply American soldiers in a fort and the Confederacy opened fire.

You wrote:

"And what was serious about? If you leave the Union, we will not let you live in peace, we will force you to rejoin us?"

--I take the First Inaugural very seriously. "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war," Lincoln said. "The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to ``preserve, protect and defend'' it."

You wrote:

"So the freedom of states, the right of self government was already being steered to the slaughterhouse? He went into office making threats so why should the Southern States (troops) NOT be on high alert. We do the same exact thing today with terror warnings."

--Who was attacking the freeom of the states or the right of self-government? Again, go to the first inaugural, Lincoln addresses both of these concerns. The place to air disagreements was (and still is) the United States Congress. Lincoln pointed to the constitution, which protects the rights of individuals as well as states. If the South thought Lincoln designed to destroy slavery, he pointed to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the institution. If that wasn't enough, they could work within the constitution and pass an amendment specifically portecting slavery. If slavery was not the issue, then why did the South object so vehemntly to Lincoln?

You wrote:

"George Washington would have sided with the South, after all he was a Rebel himself. Andy Jackson well we can look to Florida for that answer. Later presidents and would have called out the troops as we have witnessed."

--How did Washington react to the Whiskey Rebellion? How did Andrew Jackson react to Nullifcation?

Best,
Sam.