Alabama was the one Southern state that was the deciding factor on secession.  The vote on secession was fairly evenly divided.  Cooperationist resolutions were narrowly down by a count of 53-46 in preliminary votes.  Only after hearing of the secession decision made by Mississippi and Florida, did Alabama adopt an ordinance of secession by a vote of 61-39...still relatively close.  The other states seceeded only after Alabama seceeded.
The issue was secession, and I believe the root of conflict was cultural in nature.  Specifically, it was a clash between 
Anglo-Saxons and Celts...the Celts being settled in the South.  The two cultures simply didn't get along very well, and it came to a head when the North refused to let the South decide its own destiny.
Concerning slavery in the South during the 19th Century.  I don't think you'll find anyone here on this board who thinks that was a good thing.  Like an abusive spouse, who keeps bringing up past mistakes to belittle the other, there are some who enjoy immersion in conflict.  I find stereotyping the South as a group of evil Simon LeGree's, just as disheartening as characterizing California the land of fruits and nuts.  
What's the point, other than stirring up resentment?
Les