[Gianni]

In other words, recognize the legitimacy of the southern secession. That was a non-starter from the beginning.

Well, then, we've come full circle.

The Confederacy was illegitimate because the federal gov't chose not to recognize it.... and chose not to recognize it because it was illegitimate.

[Non-Sequitur]

The Confederacy was illegitimate because the federal gov't chose not to recognize it.... and chose not to recognize it because it was illegitimate.

I would point out that not a single country in the entire world offically recognized the legitimacy of the confederate government.