[x]

The question of slavery was not a primary reason for secession but rather a symptom. The south did not want to be told how to live by Yankees.

And the North was telling the South what to do about what?

Slavery.

[DiogenesLamp]

And the North was telling the South what to do about what?

Slavery.

Don't be obtuse. They were telling them what to do about taxes. A guy (gal?) just posted Lincoln's quote upthread.

"As he said in his inaugural address: “there needs to be no bloodshed or violence, and there shall be none unless it be forced upon the national authority. The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the Government and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere.” and ‘In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to “preserve, protect, and defend it.”’

Lincoln repeatedly said before and after Sumter that he had no power to do anything about slavery. In fact, he would urge people to pass an amendment guaranteeing slavery.