In legaleese the the most important issues come first in a document and descend to the least important last. In the case of the southern states the apparent "states right" that was most importnat in their secession was the issue of the majority in congress passing laws that adversely effected the institution of slavery.
Georgia second sentence in is secesstion declaration.
"For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non-slave-holding confederate States with reference to the subject of African slavery. They have endeavored to weaken our security, to disturb our domestic peace and tranquility, and persistently refused to comply with their express constitutional obligations to us in reference to that property, and by the use of their power in the Federal Government have striven to deprive us of an equal enjoyment of the common Territories of the Republic."
Missippi second paragraph
"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."
South Carolina first paragraph
- Code: Select all
"The people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, on the 26th day of April, A.D., 1852, declared that the frequent violations of the Constitution of the United States, by the Federal Government, and its encroachments upon the reserved rights of the States, fully justified this State in then withdrawing from the Federal Union; but in deference to the opinions and wishes of the other slaveholding States, she forbore at that time to exercise this right. Since that time, these encroachments have continued to increase, and further forbearance ceases to be a virtue. "
Texas third paragraph
"Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated Union to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. She was received into the confederacy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. She was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery-- the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits-- a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time. Her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slave-holding States of the confederacy. Those ties have been strengthened by association. But what has been the course of the government of the United States, and of the people and authorities of the non-slave-holding States, since our connection with them?
The controlling majority of the Federal Government, under various pretences and disguises, has so administered the same as to exclude the citizens of the Southern States, unless under odious and unconstitutional restrictions, from all the immense territory owned in common by all the States on the Pacific Ocean, for the avowed purpose of acquiring sufficient power in the common government to use it as a means of destroying the institutions of Texas and her sister slaveholding States. "
http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/reasons.html
The South, at this point only South Carolina, then instead of peacefully leaving fired the first shots in the Civil War April 12. 1861 by shelling Fort Sumter in act of belligerent aggression. Three days later The president calls up 75000 militia in response to defend the United States. In response two days after the militia call up Virginia secedes and is quickly joined by the other southern states. Another two days pass and a blockade starts against the south, no US military has been taken place. The next battle is Bull Run in late July and is the first aggressive move of the US.
NOW here comes the real point: You don't see dozens of people in Redcoat uniforms and the union jack marching in our 4th of July parades proud that their ancestors helped the British. Its a big social faux pas. You don't see Tawanese supporters of Red China marching around in Chinese military uniforms. You don't see Japanese Americans marching through Hawaii in Imperial Jpanese navy uniforms waving an angry red meatblal flag. If you shouldn't march in full Nazi regalia with swastkas flags through a Jewish neighborhood, you shouldn't go parading in front of a black sorority in CSA regalia carrying a battle flag which is a symbol of their repression & subjugation. Really folks, there is a point where historical pride just becomes a matter of lack of respect and stupidity, especially since its supporting the losing side in the nation that won.
