Question

What did the south mean by the phrase "state's rights"

Answer 1

When the south said “state’s rights” they wanted states to have more power than the federal government. this way the southern states could own slaves and not be intimidated by the north for it.

Answer 2

It meant that Northerners in free states were obligated, regardless of their feelings towards slavery, to turn escaped slaves who had made it North back over to their Southern masters.