In other words, Liberals were ignoring the clear meaning of Constitutional requirements and substituting their own personal feelings for the existing law. Same as today.
I just yesterday read a statement made by a man at the South Carolina secession convention and he touched on exactly the point you mentioned. He said the South was holding true to the meaning of the Declaration and the US Constitution, but it's requirements were being routinely violated by the Northern states.
Yes to all. Today’s American liberalism is a direct outgrowth of a novel interpretation of Christianity, and it is is odd (or possibly ironic) that it comes to fruition in pagan totalitarianism.