I think you fail to realize that the federal government was set up to provide for a common defense and to settle disputes between states. The idea of the current US where the feds have their hands in our everyday lives would be abhorent to the founding fathers. We, as people, are supposed to be represented by our states. While slavery is abhorent, one group of states dictating laws to another group, which deals with happenings inside their borders, flys in the face of what the US is supposed to be. While the south had representation, the feds were never supposed to have that kind of authority to begin with. It has nothing to do with interstate issues or defense. The north and the feds over stepped their bounds and the south responded. As they well should have. Saying they had representation is akin to saying everyone gets a fair trial with provided representation. You may legally be represented, but no one who can afford a real lawyer is going to risk it with a public defender because its a sham. If legislation that causes a civil war manages to get passed, representation must not have been adequate.