Ok, I've finally found what I've been looking for...
Can you identify where these statemens come from, Time?
"For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non-slave-holding confederate States with reference to the subject of African slavery."
"The party of Lincoln, called the Republican party, under its present name and organization, is of recent origin. It is admitted to be an anti-slavery party."
"This question was before us. We had acquired a large territory by successful war with Mexico; Congress had to govern it; how, in relation to slavery, was the question then demanding solution. This state of facts gave form and shape to the anti-slavery sentiment throughout the North and the conflict began. Northern anti-slavery men of all parties asserted the right to exclude slavery from the territory by Congressional legislation..."
The prohibition of slavery in the Territories is the cardinal principle of this organization. By organization, the statement means the Confederate States of America.
It goes on from there...
That's taken from the official record of the State of Georgia, as approved by the legislature on January 29, 1861, as the state's OFFICIAL reasons for separating from the union.
That's just an aberation, right?
Let's travel on down to Ole Miss, home of Jefferson Davis and this sentiment...
"Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth....These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization."
"That we do not overstate the dangers to our institution, a reference to a few facts will sufficiently prove."
It goes on from there, and in fact, gets kind of ugly.
All of that is from the Journal of the State Convention of 1861.
Still an aberation?
Let's move on to South Carolina....
South Carolina, the original state to call for secession, is actually rather unique in its justification. It mentions slavery frequently, but it also gives an in-depth justification framed around many of the other traditional states rights causes, but near the end of the Convention's statement, it launches into a justification for secession based on the desire to preserve the institution of slavery.
Finally, Texas.
"They (Northern intersts) demand the abolition of negro slavery throughout the confederacy, the recognition of political equality between the white and negro races, and avow their determination to press on their crusade against us, so long as a negro slave remains in these States."
And you've just got to love this statement...
"We hold as undeniable truths that the governments of the various States, and of the confederacy itself, were established exclusively by the white race, for themselves and their posterity; that the African race had no agency in their establishment; that they were rightfully held and regarded as an inferior and dependent race, and in that condition only could their existence in this country be rendered beneficial or tolerable."
In these statements, three things are evident...
1. Slavery was a MAJOR reason for Southern secession.
2. The Southern states were more than willing to go to war to force recognition of their secession to form an independent goverment apart from the United States.
3. EVERYONE WAS BRINGING THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY UP!
