George,
You and I are on the same team in regards to Slavery was not the reason for the War. First and foremost it was to preserve the Union. It is a problem when you just throw out documents and expect people to view it the way the do. Whether spoken or written or not your opinion is your interpretation. I fully heartily agree in the beginning, that the War for the North was to preserve the Union. I full heartily agree that for the South they felt pushed out of their own Country and fighting for what they believe to be the way of the Constitution and they wanted to maintain the balance between the Regions. Checks and balances. Their was a perception, whether real or not that the North was trying to seize control of Congress and line their pockets at the Expense and detriment of the South.