Mahlon, the difference is this. The southern states considered themselves sovreign, their people considered them sovreign and they held elections and went through a government sponsored process of seceding from the Union. Their soldiers were formed into armies and operated under what may be described as the rules of war. The Union itself acted in such a way as to besstow some degree of recognition of this when things like prisoner of war exchanges were performed.

Timothy MvVeigh was an evil man who murdered innocent people based on his own decisions and judgements. Considering this, do you stand by your position that the Confederate was similar to McVeigh? I would hope not.

On a personal note I will advise you to get ready for some strongly worded rebuttals and I ask that everybody try to keep calm when discussing this further.