Quote Originally Posted by rhineoshott View Post
Well ya see,
I've done a good bit of research on Lincoln. Winners write the history books has really been true of this man. He's been heralded as a great man for no real reason. He killed a lot of americans in his "civil" war because he didn't want the confederacy to be seprate. If you think the civil war was about slavery, you're way behind in your studies. The War of Northern Aggression was about state's rights and it's goal was to prevent the south from succeeding, the slavery issue was already settled.
I was contemplating some similar thoughts. The quotes are very good, but it is important to remember that those types of quotes came from many leaders of the time. Depending on the speaker, today's equivalent could be called "empty rhetoric".
I have been explaining to people for years that the Civil war was about state secession, not slavery. Slavery was just one component to a much larger issue. Lincoln capitolised on slavery as a political maneuver to gain support and it helped him gain considerable power.
Sobering to even consider all those Americans fighting brother, friend and neighbor. God bless the fallen, on both sides.