“Texas, being the only state that was once a nation”
How does one define “nation”? The 13 colonies, once independent, each thought of themselves as sovereign.
Regardless, those colonies declared themselves free. That is the point.
Where does it say a supposedly free people must be bound to a government forever?
Please don’t reply that the Civil War decided this. Give us a principle, not an act of brute force.
How does one define “nation”? The 13 colonies, once independent, each thought of themselves as sovereign.
Actually, the Framers didn't use the word "nation" in the Constitution or the Federalist Papers. They spoke of the Country, of the People (one People = one State), of the Union, of a confederation, and of the federal republic. But they didn't bandy around the word "Nation".
The United Colonies became the United States de facto by acts of war, and de jure by the concession of sovereignty by George III in the Treaty of Paris to each and every State, each of which was named seriatim and addressed individually.
There is n o doubt that each State was a sovereign republic; and each State was not a geographic place but a People who lived there. "State" = "People".
I believe a sovereign nation is one that has an established government (legislature, executive, judicial, etc.) and no, I do not think the Civil War answered the question about the role of federal government intrusion into state’s rights. That question is still with us.