George,
The South had over two-thirds of the Presidents in office up to Buchanan's time. There were many Southern Justices that served on the Supreme Court. Each State was well represented in the Senante and Congress. Granted that there were less Southern states than Northern. However, the South had close alliances with Mid-West States and New York. Had they stayed and fought it out in the Legislature, it would be doubtful that Lincoln would have been able get many of his policies passed. That's my view, we will never know for sure now.
Cump.