Comment Re:3/5 clause (Score 1) 239
There is another historically successful method of abolishing slavery. The government compensates slaves owners for their slaves at the same time it abolishes slavery. That is how they did it in Britain, Washington D.C. and basically the rest of the world. Had this been done at the time of the civil war, it would have cost considerably less than the cost of the war.
When writing the US Constitution, there was another option -- abolish it in the future. People are much more likely to agree to something they consider undesirable as long as it is delayed for the next generation.
By 1860, the mindset of the South was such that neither of the previous solutions would work as it was also strong cultural racism and privilege, not just slavery that was involved.