1> If I remember right paranoid southerners seceded in a case of colossal sour grapes that their guy did not win the election. Just like modern secessionists those morons were scared of a lot of shit that just was not going to happen. In the case of the historic traitors it was abolition something that was not even on Abe's list. much like the modern traitors scared Barry will take their guns. 2>I will have to give you this one. if it were up to me Abe should have said don't let the door hit you on the way out. We only would have lost the dumbest part of the country. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. (notice my bit of the south NC and Virginia are not on the list.) My prediction is that within a month that breed of hysterical women that the world calls southern men would be begging for admittance. 3> this of course is your best argument.