"delighted to make slavery a "federal" issue when it suited their purpose -

I agree with you, in that Southern leadership did not make slavery an issue just when it pleased them - in fact, those leaders helped make slavery an issue constantly for decades."

OK, Doesn't matter to me how you want to put it but your statements sure contradict each other. The way I see it no matter what you call it peas is peas corn is corn right is right and wrong is wrong.

So it is your way of thinking that every man, woman and child in the South was somehow tied to slavery? Those that were not aspired to be slave owners? What a crock.

Here is the census for the state of Mississippi why don't you take a glance through it and note the different trades listed.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~cenfiles/ms/marion/1860/

I even started you in my ancestors county which is still today mostly a rural area. Note the wheelwrights, lawyers, teachers, students, ministers etc.

Now I just gotta know, if the the poor white trash in the South only goal was to be a slave owner what was the goal of the poor whites in the North? To be abolitionist or conductors on the underground railroad?

GP