Those rights were not at issue. In the years leading up to secession, the Federal government was not quartering soldiers in private homes, infringing on the right to bear arms, or limiting the freedom of speech. There was, however, a long-running battle over the institution of slavery, and that is the Federal usurpation of power that the secession movement was intended to resist.

Many of the declaration of causes of secession are eloquently written, and far too many people are so dazzled by the style, that they can't see the substance. The primary issue in the secession movement in the deep South was slavery. The documents justifying their actions was couched in high-flown language, but, once again, when you wipe away all the bugle-juice, it gets down to slavery.

The upper South states? That's a whole other issue.