[hirn_man]

Its the Confederates that ignored the previous agreements.

They didn't feel like they had to live up to the deal that their anscestors had made, and they tried to walk away. Pity they didn't heed the declaration of independence. You guys have memorized that document by heart. You know the part that says people normally shouldn't try to throw off their governments and form new ones because usually what they wind up with is worse than what they started out with.

[labard1]

"Its the Confederates that ignored the previous agreements."

You know very well that New England had threatened to secede during the War of 1812, and failed to do so mainly because that war ended.

Your other point from the Declaration of Independence is sensible, however. Almost every significant office holder in the Confederacy opposed secession until their views no longer mattered, at which time they went with their states. They believed secession was lawful under the Constitution, but not wise for the reason you stated. And they were right, we did end up with something worse.

[billbears]

You know the part that says people normally shouldn't try to throw off their governments and form new ones because usually what they wind up with is worse than what they started out with

Normally yes, but when you are being fiscally raped as the Southern states were, what would you suggest they would have done? Let it go on? They did the same thing their brave ancestors did. Leave the offensive party behind. Unfortunately, bankers and manufacturer barons couldn't just allow the Southern states to leave, not to mention the national government. Where would they get their money for their unconstitutional plans from?

[WhiskeyPapa]

They didn't feel like they had to live up to the deal that their anscestors had made...

Exactly correct.

Southerners had controlled the federal government for decades. When the election of a man Like Lincoln -- always an opponent of slavery -- showed that control slipping, they tried to bolt.

Walt