Replying to a message of Steve Kemp to Bob Ackley:

 SK>>> Eventually we (the U.S.) WOULD have freed them anyways. If only
 SK>>> because  we were one of the last "official" slave owner
 SK>>> countries. And over time  pressure would have been put upon us.
 SK>>> No war needed.

 BA>> Slavery became economically unfeasible after farm machinery became
 BA>> available in large numbers.  Which happened in the late 1800s.  
 BA>> Machines are cheaper to own and operate than people are, and don't
 BA>> have to be fed when  they're not being used.

 SK> That's after-thought. foo!

Not really, Eli Whitney's cotton gin was invented early in the 19th century and
the first mechanical harvesters were developed shortly before the Civil War
broke out.

 SK> You think that the MAN still wouldn't want slave labor to work the 
 SK> fields? Shit, we still DO need slave labor to do it!

Not if a machine will do it cheaper.  Slaves have to be housed and fed when
they're not working, machines don't.  'course, there are "other"
benefits to
be had from owning slaves (but it's cheaper to get them from professionals
in a whore house).

--- FleetStreet 1.19+