[ConservativeMind]

So you agree the South wanted that status quo.

Thank you.

[DiogenesLamp]

So you agree the South wanted that status quo.

Did not say that. Clearly they wanted at least the status quo where they couldn't be outvoted by powerful interests in the North. I'm sure they would have preferred to have even more control of congress than "status quo" but that could not happen.

Going independent, governing themselves and keeping most of the money they produced looked like a very attractive alternative to them.