Not that I expect an argument here, but regarding Nikki Haley's comments (or lack thereof) on slavery/the reasons for the Civil war, one only has to look at the states documents for succession. It's disturbing in this day & age for anyone, let alone a candidate for President, to be intentionally ignorant (I'd say maliciously ignorant) of the reasons for the Civil war (or the horrors of the Holocaust).
It's pretty clear from the
Cornerstone speech of 1861 by Alexander Stephens (vice president of the Confederate States), in particular beginning with paragraph 9.
Documents of Succession from the states are also clear. From Mississippi for example:
(first 2 paragraphs)
In the momentous step which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course.
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin.
Many of the documents write about the inferiority of black Africans (backed by 'science') as if they are not fully human and coat it with religious language stating that God wants white men to be in power in order to procure 'blessings'. There should be no debate or artful avoidance in this day & age about what the civil war was about.
