Originally Posted by rainshot
People are not "Property". Slaves were forbidden to be educated. Some were taught only a single job like blacksmithing or cooking and cleaning. They were forbidden to own any property. They were chattel and only that. They were fed with food they largely grew and clothed as the owner saw fit. housed as well. They were forbidden to marry. As property their women could be taken at the owners discretion and bred. Reconstruction was a nightmare for the South thanks to Booth's success. It took many years to overcome the hatred, animosity and superstitions some of which exist today. The democrat party today is just as viral as it was in the "solid south". Instead of murdering blacks and denying them any rights they imprison them in other ways. They have managed to keep many blacks on the plantation by convincing them that democrats alone are their salvation. That's changing largely because of Trump.
The question wasn't about the morality of slavery. It was about whether one (or more) states could ignore the constitution, to the detriment of other states. If it were solely about slavery, the abolitionists should have gladly let the immoral southerners leave.

(Unfortunately, the side that didn't care what the constitution said won, and we now have the all powerful federal govt.)