Hi BroJoeJ - I am largely sympathetic to your post but continue to take issue with even entertaining the lost cause myth of the states’ signing statements bearing any force of law.
So far in my research I have failed to find anyone anywhere prior to or during the Civil War claiming that specific right. If you can supply a quote or reference I would love to see it.
No, I think that it was simpler than that. Like the democrats they were, the rebels staged “secession votes” with a thumb or two on the scales. Sometimes they had to repeat the vote until they got what they wanted. Then, on the “strength” of those votes declared themselves “seceded”. They knew it was all pretense and subterfuge - because simultaneously they were looting the federal coffers and armories, arming themselves against their brothers and neighbors.
When confronted by Buchanan they scoffed and shouted “You ain’t the boss of me!” and dared the president to do anything. Poor Bucolic, er Buchanan, impotent in his indecision, did nothing and further emboldened the fire-eaters.
There was nothing legal or secessive about their secession.
Again it goes back to the basic question. The US Constitution is silent on secession; so on that legal ground alone the issue it is up the states. Secession is not legal nor illegal at the Federal level.
Of course we don't really disagree on that.
But our Lost Causers insist that those signing statements reflect our Founders' beliefs that secession was totally understood and acceptable.
I am merely using them to point out the stark difference between "disunion" from necessity (1776) or mutual consent (1788) -- which our Founders did recognize as legitimate -- versus unilateral unapproved declarations of secession at pleasure, which no Founder ever approved of.
Even those Va & NY signing statements do not support what Deep South Fire Eaters did in late 1860 and early 1861.
That's my point here.
rockrr: "There was nothing legal or secessive about their secession."
Totally agree.