In the case of the slaveholders' rebellion, "the People" had nothing to do with it. It was all done by the will of a few powerful and influential slaveholders and their political cronies. Hardly a popular revolt.
Wrong. It was done by the duly-elected governments of the respective states. That's as close to 'the will of the people" as you can get in this world.
Wrong. It was done by the duly-elected governments of the respective states. That's as close to 'the will of the people" as you can get in this world.
Didn't the duly-elected government of the states and of the people say "No" to secession, and therefore was that not as close to "the will of the people" as you could get?