The Confederate government was WAY more centralized and oppressive than the federal government is today. Don't be misled by neo-Confederate lunatics.
Yes, far better to be misled by Hamiltonian revisionists who would have us believe the government today is what the Framers really wanted, but were just afraid to ask. The Confederacy wanted her freedom from a national government gone wrong. We didn't get it and now we have a bureaucratic behemoth that no longer recognizes federalism or holds any of the traits the Framers or the Constitution intended it to have. Except for Rep. Paul, and perhaps one or two others, I'd bet good money the other elected hacks even know the intent of the document