George,

"Prove him wrong."

The burden of proof first lies with the person making the claim. The author did not give any evidence to support his tariff statistics. That goes for most of his article---many claims with virtually no evidence.

"I don't believe Mr. King intends for this brief to be a complete history, I think his idea is to show the growing pains of the nation as a whole."

If that is his intention, then he failed there too.

"Interesting how you just dismiss than Southern ideas or suggestions as extreme."

What makes his article extreme is his absolutist and one-sided approach. Others have made similar arguments as Mr. King without being so extreme.

"Mr. King is not the only person that has touched on these various reasons in one form or another, are we to dismiss all these others also simply because their research does not fit your mode of thinking?"

As I said above, other people have made similar arguments. When these arguments are made with supporting evidence and with better consideration of modern historical study, they may stand a little stronger. But what Mr. King does is provide a laundry list of complaints that too often fail to address the complexities and historical realities of 19th century America.

"It is just my opinion that Mr. King is more than likely closer to the truth than any summary or list of reasons that we have seen."

It is my opinion that Mr. King is very far from the truth. I would also be curious to know if any established historians believe Mr. King's list is closer to the truth than other summaries generally available.