How did the confedarate states justify secession?

The Confederate states justified secession primarily by invoking the principle of states' rights, arguing that the U.S. Constitution allowed states to withdraw from the Union if they believed their rights were being violated. They claimed that the federal government was overstepping its authority, particularly regarding the issue of slavery, which they viewed as essential to their economy and way of life. Additionally, they emphasized the right to self-determination and the belief that they were preserving their sovereignty against what they perceived as Northern aggression.