In a message dated 9/20/99 10:42:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << It was only New Englanders who owned the slave ships. It was the US flag that flew over them. The hugh plantations in the South which owned tens of thousands of slaves were owned by northerners. At the time of the War 80% of the Southern people did not own slaves. 15% of Southerners owned a family of 5 or less slaves. The avrage Southerner owned 1000 arces of land he farmed himself. ................ Lincoln was a racist. He made statements in his campaign speeches on how he detested Black people. Lincoln gave orders to his military officers that Southern ladies were to be raped and Southern civilians were to have their possesions taken from them. Any northern officer who did not comply with lincolns orders was sent out until he did comply. They officers who did comply were promoted in rank. >> Can you please offer some reference sources; i.e. published works to substantiate your statements?