What was a primary concern of the Southern position regarding implied powers?

The correct choice reflects the Southern perspective that implied powers, as interpreted by a broader federal government, posed a significant threat to the institution of slavery. In the early to mid-19th century, Southern states were highly invested in maintaining and expanding the system of slavery, which they viewed as essential for their agricultural economy and social order. The concern was that federal powers implied in various constitutional interpretations could lead to measures that would undermine or abolish slavery, thus jeopardizing the Southern way of life.

The rise of federal authority, seen through the lens of implied powers, raised alarms among Southern leaders who feared that this could foster legislative or judicial actions against slavery. Southern society was built around this institution, and any potential encroachment by the federal government was considered a direct threat to their rights and economic interests. This tension illustrated the larger ideological and political struggle between states' rights advocated by the South and the growing federal oversight and authority coming from the North.

This context underscores the importance of understanding how the interpretation of the Constitution was central to the regional conflicts leading up to the Civil War. The North's use of implied powers was viewed as a mechanism that could potentially be leveraged to disrupt the Southern economy and social structure, thus reinforcing the selection of this answer as