With the exception of freeing the slaves, and opposing the Southern rebellion, I can't think of an action Lincoln took that wasn't also taken by Jefferson Davis. Conscription? Both did it. Suspend habeas corpus? Both did it. Income tax? Both did it. Protectionist tariffs? Both again. Newspaper censorship? Ditto. Consolidate power in the central government? Both again. So considering that Davis was just as bid a despot in his way as you claim Lincoln was in his how can you make the blanket claim that the South would have developed into some sort of small government, state's rights paradise? The odds seem to be against that happening, given the start.
Just finished (another) Civil War history. It's fair to point out that Davis used this suspension a great deal less frequently than Lincoln. It is also fair to bring up that southern repression of armed resistance, as in eastern TN, was a good deal more harsh than the similar federal repression in MD.
Protectionist tariffs? Both again.
Don't think so. CSA Constitution specifically prohibited protectionist tariffs, though without defining them. Given the minimal trade that made it through the blockade, CSA tariffs never raised much money.
Newspaper censorship? Ditto.
Actually, I don't think Davis every actually censored newspapers. (Could be wrong.) Though southern social pressure served much the same purpose.
I was asked my opinion and I gave it. This does not mean you have to agree with me, It is simply my opinion.
Get over it.