But secession itself is the coward's way out. The genius of the Constitution is that it allows for it's own modification. Get two-thirds of the state legislatures to call a convention. Get three-fourths of the states to ratify what that convention proposes. You can got in and propose an amendment that the Constitution is now null and void and all the states are on their own if you want.
But the secessionist of 1861 or the Lost Causer of today realizes that's hard work, and they don't want to do the hard work of winning a supermajority to their side. They'd rather invoke some magical principle that they can simply blink their eyes three times and suddenly they're in a different country, exempt from all laws.
EVERYONE knows the South is the most conservative region in the country. Hell, the South is the only think keeping us(perhaps the world) from slipping into totalitarianism and communism. So as a separate nation, the South would be fine right now instead of being trapped in a dying union that is determined to bring the whole thing down. To deny that is to be totally brainwashed or just plain ignorant.
The only cowards are the Free Republic neo blue bellies that make Nazi's look like open minded liberals.