This is from the Texas Ordinance of Secession
"In all the non-slave-holding States, in violation of that good faith and comity which should exist between entirely distinct nations, the people have formed themselves into a great sectional party, now strong enough in numbers to control the affairs of each of those States, based upon the unnatural feeling of hostility to these Southern States and their beneficent and patriarchal system of African slavery, proclaiming the debasing doctrine of the equality of all men, irrespective of race or color--a doctrine at war with nature, in opposition to the experience of mankind, and in violation of the plainest revelations of the Divine Law. They demand the abolition of negro slavery throughout the confederacy, the recognition of political equality between the white and the negro races, and avow their determination to press on their crusade against us, so long as a negro slave remains in these States. "
Texas Ordinance of Secession
I encourage you to read through the various ordinances of secession.
These letters detail the exact causes and motives behind secession. And, they not only typically mention slavery , but also that "debasing doctrine of the equality of all men."
I was shocked when I led through the ordinances (I searched them each for terms like race, negro, equality, slavery) because I thought the issue was actually debatable.
On "the flag"
I'm going to be less detailed, but I think those versed in the history and controversy can fill in...
My understanding is "the flag" was NOT "the flag" and it was used by one batllation (or platoon)? Nathan Bedford Forrest I believe, often credited and debunked as being the Klan founder.
These are the flags of Texas:
Flags of the Republic of Texas
There is a Confederate flag, but it is not "the flag"
"The flag" became notorious and more publically used via Klan use.
They became popularized in state flags and on state grounds as protest during the civil rights movement.
I think only one state had that symbol in their flag during the confederacy - and the others introduced it to protest "that debasing doctrine."
Only a small part of the Confederacy can say it's about their heritage. Several states, as a matter of fact, reverted their flags and have flown their *actual* confederate flags instead of the one introduced in protest of equal rights.
Why not fly the actual flags? (to which there is next to no protest)
Flags of the Confederate States of America - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia