[capitan_refugio]

"Slavery was the key issue that the South left the Union."

That it was, despite the protestations of the rebel wannabes. One need only review the pre-war speeches and editorials to understand the motivation of the southern leadership.

[fortheDeclaration]

"Slavery was the key issue that the South left the Union."

Yes, and all the smoke about 'rights' is just that 'smoke' to hide the ghastly truth that the Southern leadership sent some hundred of thousands of its best men to their deaths to protect their own human 'property'