But slavery had no "onerous political weight" -- none, zero, zip, nada weight -- in the Deep Cotton South.
In 1860, in the cotton South white Americans were more prosperous, on average, than anywhere else on Earth, and they knew it and they knew why!
- "Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world.
Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth.
These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun.
These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization.
That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation..."
--A Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union, January 1861
Nothing would change those people's minds and nothing short of war would convince them to change their laws on this.
Surely even you can see that?
Of course we cannot say what might have happened in 50 years, or 100 or 150 years, but why-ever would a Confederacy successful at war, successful at independence and most especially successful economically -- why-ever would they wish to change their winning formulas?
Slavery had been part of their political DNA, from the beginning, and no sane person would wish to change that, would they?
"The greatest material interest of the world."
