We fuss and moan about the election process being flawed. Remember the Gore/Bush stand-off? That was baby powder in my mind compared to the election of 1860. I often wonder why the idea of a candidate being elected by one section of the country who wasn't even on many ballots in the south, if any, I don't know, can't be seen as a worry to the south by those in the north.

Suppose this next election a candidate was elected president by the "old Confederate states" (their term, not mine). Do we think for one second that California and New York would just let that slide. I really doubt it.

I submit that the election of a sectional candidate did much to enflame the South. I would also say rightfully so.