“Secession was never “legal”. The only way that it could be legal would be an amendment to the Constitution allowing it.”
Oddly enough, I agree with you on this point. Secession was not legal. And it still isn’t. But when you get to the point of rebellion, it’s long past being a matter of legality.
Well it is a matter of WHO is on the point of rebellion. The New Englanders of 1804 were just as wrong as the Southern ruling class of 1860 and with far more justification than them. After all Jefferson had destroyed their economy whereas the Slavers revolted before he even took office.