Posted by Ilya Somin:
Southern States' Secession Ordinances:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_08_10-2008_08_16.shtml#1218569423
Judging by the number of comments, my post on slavery as the Southern
states' motive for secession in 1861 has drawn a lot more interest
than I expected. Unfortunately, I have less time than usual to study
and respond to comments because I am about to move to the University
of Pennsylvania for the fall semester. However, those interested in
this issue may want to check out [1]the official statements of reasons
for secession issued by four of the eleven seceding states in 1861 -
Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. All four discuss
slavery far more prominently than any other issue, and three of four
don't mention any issues unrelated to slavery (Georgia's statement
briefly mentions disputes over the tariff, but far less prominently
than slavery). Mississippi's statement gives the clearest account of
the centrality of slavery to the secession decision:
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. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and
was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice
left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a
dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to
work out our ruin.
References
1. http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/reasons.html
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