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Indeed that’s a famous letter but his implication is that his constitutional authority was to the union and as slavery was the driver of the war, the result was clear. A clever formulation, for a lawyer, designed to maintain maximum legitimacy for his actions.

His opinions, however, were clear, and that is part of why he was the republican party’s first nominee.

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not trying to say that slavery wasnt an important topic at the time or trying to undermine slavery, just that sometimes slavery is being misconstrued as the only reason for the war, wars are complicated, there was a strong divide between the country at the time, and the most immediate threat was to the union separating.

this should not take away from the importance of the abolition of slavery or the fact that this was a heinous act, or the heroism of the people at the time and to this day, to some extent, of the heroes of our time still fighting racial prejudice.

Ultimately when you boil away the other reasons why the South seceded you're left with slavery.

It's States Rights[1]! It's about new territories[2]! It's about economic imperialism[3]!

[1] To own slaves

[2] To open up new plantations with slaves

[3] Against slaveowning businesses

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