You know it is strange that no one ever cites the Constitutional Law class that Lee attended while he was a cadet at West Point. That Constitutional Law class which supposedly used Juctise William Rawle textbook on the Constitution, declared that while the Union of the States was the preferred status quo, and that while secession of the individual states was not a desireable option, Secession was none the less an option granted to the states in extreme circumstances. That class also pointed out the limitations of the Federal Government if anyone cares to read Rawle's book which was on-line. Lincoln's heavyhanded tact to the Sumter Crisis would have certainly strained that authority as taught by Rawle's Textbook.
I don't suppose that Lee's education played any part in his decision. That as long as Virginia remained loyal to the Union Lee would be a loyal soldier of the United States. But when Virginia seceeded that under the Constitution (As it was interpreted in that day) the state authority superceeded that of a Union. In fact the Southern State simple reconstituted a "New" Union. Could not Lee comments be in regards to Virginia's legal status rather than simply "I'm a Virginian"?
In any case the original posting which started this query was about an article in which the writer "SPECULATED" that the reason for Lee's resignation was due to his fear of Blacks being given freedom in the South. To which MY reply was that it was poppycock and "revisionist history". If there is any "stirring of the pot speculation" it was certainly that writer.
Finally, the standard explaination that Lee resigned simply because he was a Virginian, When other Virginians like Thomas did not resign, in my opinion, portrays Lee as a simpleton who did not give those matters the thought that they deserved. I do not believe a man as calculating as Lee made such a soul searching decision on such a flimsy reason as his place of birth.