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And by the way, if you want to engage in some more idle speculation on how the South would raise money, I will let you wrestle with that.

But in case you need some facts to help you along, enjoy:

If the Confederacy wanted an army the size of the Union, in 1860 it would have cost $16 million. If they wanted a navy to match the Union, in 1860 it would have cost another $11 million. Operation of a government less than 25% the size of the Union, $4 million.

Grand total of $31 million.

Value of total Southern exports in 1859 was $208 million, bringing in a like valued import amount at an 8% tariff, and what do you have? Left over $16 million? About $3 a person of personal taxes? Check my math.

They would just charge those yankee traders a port tax.

The problem with that is that the south didn't want an army the size of the Federal Army in 1860. They passed legislation authorizing an army of 100,000. Your $16 million just became $80 million. And the army of 1860 wasn't starting from scratch, the confederate army was.

Value of total Southern exports in 1859 was $208 million, bringing in a like valued import amount at an 8% tariff, and what do you have?

You have the end of your claims to a free trade zone, among other things.