Yes, it was. And it could kill this republic yet.
As soon as the Brits surrendered the new Americans should have freed the slaves, and to hell with South Carolina.
There were many then opposed to slavery, there was a chance they could have actually pulled it off.
And if that meant fighting the Civil War right then, with the War of 1812 thrown in, fine, bring it.
And it is all as simple as that.
