I will try to bite my lip and let you have the last word on the topic. My prohibition premise I thought was contemporary because it was in the lifetime of the veterans, and I also base my thoughts on the secession declarations of the staes that clearly said that slavery was the main issue, and those that say clearly that the LACK of federal enforcement on norhern states was the main issue. I think those are definitely contemporary to the soldiers who fought, under the giuse of "states rights". In their lifetimes both before and after the war they invoked or rejected states rights with amazing flexibilty for what is supposed to a have been a firm 'principle' of government in their eyes.
I think reading the actual declarations of secession to be highly enlightening, especially to those who claim long after the fact that slavery was not the issue.
Ok, I will really really try to sit back and shut up. The last word is yours, friend David.