"I'd dance with Abe Lincoln himself tonight!"

[samgrant]

Those are Scarlett O'hara's words, but of course taken in context, one can detect the contempt that the South had for Lincoln before the war.

I've never understood the threat they perceived from Lincoln, not an abolitionist per se. In his 1st innaugural speech, he practically begged the South to reconsider their actions and offered no offensive threat.

Was it just because he was a "Republican", and that was enough?

[gary]

The perceived threat arose during the Lincoln-Stephan debates. If they had an internet system and he released his speech as an acceptance speech before assuming office, it may have assuaged southern anxiety.

[johan_steele]

I believe the CS had merely waited the "appropriate" time, Lincoln was just the excuse.

[larry_cockerham]

I suspect the Southern folks who had watched Lincoln discovered early on that he was a politician. They were looking for truth and leadership. (Lot's of Southerners today would even dance with Hillary Clinton, Heaven forbid.)

[unionblue]

Larry,

Amen.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[samgrant]

On second thought, I realize that it was not "the people" of the South, but the fire eater sort which stirred up the thing and that that group would not tolerate any Republican, non-abolitonist or whatever.

[5fish]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

I suspect the Southern folks who had watched Lincoln discovered early on that he was a politician. They were looking for truth and leadership. (Lot's of Southerners today would even dance with Hillary Clinton, Heaven forbid.)

This southern boy would dance with Hillary and vote as well.

[OpnDownfall]

The result of the massive propaganda campaign by the Fire-Eaters and other secessionists (slave owners) convincing the majority of southern voters that their interests and the slave owners were one in the same.

[formerYank]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

I suspect the Southern folks who had watched Lincoln discovered early on that he was a politician. They were looking for truth and leadership. (Lot's of Southerners today would even dance with Hillary Clinton, Heaven forbid.)

sorry, lt., no right minded southerner gent or no would dance with a carpetbagger. wouldn't be right.

[30th_il]

I heard Lincoln wanted to dance with Mary Todd "in the worse way" and he succeeded! So, owing to his poor performance "cuttin' the rug"...I wonder how he would've done on Dancing with the Stars! Ha!