"The Confederacy thought the same thing."

They must have had a reason to believe so. Don't you agree? I have a tendency to think so taking into consideration all of the Lincoln quotes about slavery.

I'll also concede the point of homes to you on a technicality; however I do believe you know what I am referring to. Again I ask you what supplies were needed. The soldiers were drawing supplies from Charleston. I have already posted reference to that; shall I repost copy the whole page? How much gunpowder and how many bullets does a Union soldier eat in a day, why more troops? It is a clear aggressive move if there ever was one.

Sorry but I simply cannot accept this-- "My interpretation is based on evidence' because you say this "That isn't my "interpretation" of the ideology of the Confederate leaders, those are their words." Several times I have referenced to the words of Lincoln that you posted and you gave me and interpretation. We cannot play that game. If Lincoln said it by golly he meant it just Like Stephens and Davis. Lancôme said he had no intention of freeing any salve-- but he lied. Remember the EP and letter to Greeley, just two days before his Great War Measure.

I'll concede to your point on the war measure. He wrote the EP all the while declaring he was not going to interfere in the instruction of slavery. Seems like he told one lie after another doesn't it? I mean freeing slaves, bringing them back into slavery as the Union armies advanced. Lincoln was a busy fellow wasn't he?

Actually I believe that Lincoln was given a choice and he chose war. I'll even post more references on that tomorrow.

There was no rebellion; it was an invasion of a peaceful country by another country. The South left the Union under peaceful terms; Lincoln refused to seek a peaceful resolution even though he was given plenty of opportunities. To borrow from you what would Jackson have done?

I have no problem what-so ever- with the words of Davis or Stephens. Perhaps they were just doing like Lincoln and saying what the people wanted to hear. Again I say if we are to hold these Southern leaders to their words then by golly let’s do the same for Lincoln.

Thanks I did not have this site. I see some good stuff in here. Ok I see the resolutions you are referring to. These resolutions were from January of 1861, is that correct? I have another set of the Causes of secession in my computer; those are what I thought you were referring to. I suppose I did not make myself clear, what were the instructions the men received before meeting and drawing up these articles? Were they instructed to address their stand on slavery or the entire cause for secession? I did slip over to the page Ordinances of Secession and found quite a different story there with only Texas, Alabama and Virginia using the word slave. I admit I'll have to read more for those are new documents to me. Very interesting, again thank you.

"If the South wanted to keep their slaves, they should have stayed in the Union and allowed their representives in Congress to resist any abolitionist designs."

They may have if Lincoln would have met the peace delegation. Referring back to the letter I posted, I can't help but thinking slavery was not the main issue. I mean why would they turn down such an offer if all they wanted was to keep their slaves?

"Again, they were not fighting to free the slaves. They were fighting to preserve the Union.'

I agree but wouldn't it be fair to say the South was not fighting to keep the slaves either?

GP