I read a multi-volume biography where he said that he believed succession was unconstitutional and slavery was immoral, but was unable to fight against the state where he was born and raised.
Regardless, of where you fall on the matter of the civil war, Robert E. Lee, in my opinion, always has been and always will be a great American.
I personally am glad the north won but don’t believe it needed to come at the expense of states rights. Had Lincoln lived, I think we would all be better off today. His death handed power to radicals who sought to punish the south.
In my opinion, the Freesoil party had the right idea on how to avoid a war. They favored containment of slavery (which was just a representative issue). Slavery and the economic issues involved were dying anyway.