What did the Southern address suggest about slavery and the Union?

The Southern address suggesting that slavery would divide the Union, leading to secession, reflects the complex tensions between the northern and southern states before the Civil War. The South believed that the institution of slavery was essential to their social and economic structures, and they viewed any attempt to restrict or abolish it as a direct threat to their way of life. Consequently, the growing anti-slavery sentiment in the North was perceived as an irreconcilable difference, prompting Southern leaders to argue that maintaining slavery was vital to preserve the Union. Their belief was that if slavery were to be challenged, it would inevitably lead to sectional strife and potential secession, as states felt their rights and sovereignty were under attack. This perspective played a significant role in the events leading up to the Civil War, marking the South's determination to defend slavery as a cause of disunity.