> But all of those ancillary issues were about defending slavery as an economic and cultural institution. It's insane how often this is disputed when the Confe

> But all of those ancillary issues were about defending slavery as an economic and cultural institution. It's insane how often this is disputed when the Confederate states explicitly asserted this in their various declarations of secession. Mississippi's, for example, begins[1]: > In the momentous step, which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course. > Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product, which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. [1] http://www.civil-war.net/pages/mississippi_declaration.asp http://www.civil-war.net/pages/mississippi_declaration.asp