States Rights, primarily.
‘States’ “rights” to do what? Secede to prove they had the “right” to secede? The “right” not to abide by the results of an election they participated in? What “right” was burning so fervently besides the “right” to maintain slavery in the face of a Republican administration seeking to limit its expansion Westward?’
The North’s view of taxation as it applied to the Southern States was a key argument in this vein offered up by Southern orators of the day, and they had a very sound point in my view. Just one that comes to mind.
The tariff policies were the result of Southern dominated legislatures going back many years. The oratory was just that: oratory.
Here is a plank from the Republican Platform of 1860, calling for reform of tariffs: "12. That, while providing revenue for the support of the General Government by duties upon imports, sound policy requires such an adjustment of these imposts as to encourage the development of the industrial interests of the whole country; and we commend that policy of national exchanges which secures to the working men liberal wages, to agriculture remunerating prices, to mechanics and manufacturers an adequate reward for their skill, labor and enterprise, and to the nation commercial prosperity and independence."
Neither the Breckenridge Dem Platform, nor the Douglas version addressed tariffs at all. They differ over the right of importing slaves into the Territories. Given that, I find it hard to believe that tariffs were the driving issue that the post-war Lost Cause types propose. It didn't seem to concern the Dems in 1860.