WL, my source on the tax thing is the US 1860 Census. It actually enumerates the taxes received from each state, respectively, over the past ten years. The South paid 80% of all tax revenue collected in the United States. They saw practically no benefit from these taxes. I repeat, Does taxation without representation ring any bells?
"A strong nation, one nation, united under one leadership, under one flag, one united goal, one United States, one government, for the people and by the people." I couldn't agree more; in today's world. But in 1860, more than half the country wanted a change in that government, and while NOT united under one leadership, they set out to make that change by creating their own government. Abraham Lincoln, himself, believed that to be a sacred right of ANY PEOPLE. Any people, that is, except the South. When you have half the country NOT wanting to go in the direction their gov't. wants to, that is neither one united goal, one United States, NOR is it one government for the people OR by the people.