Counties support the state government by using a Bicameral system creating to side branches such as the federal of state have, but this branch passes on laws that can be signed by other States giving them that thier state/counties are eligable to do what ever act the government has givien them, such as Formal President Barack Obama gave and signed the ObamaCare Act, and many States/Counties signed for as well.
"as a question of property rights" is the best option as to how slave labor in America was primarily seen in the 1850s, since it was an issue of state's rights.
