Stand, I agree with your opinion that the Southern states had the right to break from the Union. Now, about Stand Watie. Yes, he was a slave owner. He headed the Southern rights party which only included those that supported slavery. Now, we can discuss for ever the right and wrong of it, but he was a slave owner. If you were Cherokee, you were either a slave owner or a slave. Not many choices given to them at the time.
free dixie,sw