The moral question was an easy one to decide by today s standards, but in 1858, the influence of morality regarding the owning of people was not nearly so distinct. Today we see similar displays of angst regarding federal intrusion into the business of the states over the issues of abortion, education and welfare, to name a few. Each of these issues spark the same kind of national emotional distress as did slavery in the Nineteenth Century. The problem is that now, as in the mid-1800 s, no one in Washington seems to care. In fact, everything federal agencies and lawmakers do seems to exacerbate these problems.
History does indeed repeat itself.
There will come a time when all of these issues will reach a boiling point. I rather suspect, though, that Americans who are used to having more freedom than just about anyone else on the planet will eventually draw a line in the sand and lay in wait for the federal government to cross it, which, of course, they will do. God help us then. Federal policies have created this disunity. Such divisive interference by power megalomaniacs in Washington has caused many people in our country to adopt a renewed interest in secession, believe it or not.