If indeed "the secessionist had seceded over STATES RIGHTS", one would supposed that the new Confederate Constitution would contain wording designed to remedy specific abuses. Yet, as you noted. "Except for a few words the Confederate Constitution mirrored the U.S. Constitution."

South Carolina tried to make it so that States had no choice but to be a slave State. That would be limiting the powers of States. The others convention members strongly disagreed and made it clear that Congress had power over territories in relation to slavery, States would have the power to decide for themselves and all States would respect the right of ownership of slaves and when transporting or visiting, even in a slave prohibiting state, the right of slave ownership would be respected. That was the issue. It did not matter what the property was, it was the issue of rights and power.

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David Upton