To the participants in 1861, the states were a tangible existing political entity.
Evil men wanted to extend and perptuate slavery.
Some did. Even The Lincoln pushed a measure to perpetuate it. Others wished for its end by peaceful means. And other evil men wanted to extend and perpetuate their own power by subjugating the people who opposed it. The same Lincoln who sought to perpetuate slavery by amendment sought to do this evil as well. He is the same entity you worship, Walt.
That is a typical neo-reb half truth. President Lincoln was faced with something of a situation. Seven states had already thrown down the national authority. President Lincoln was always ready to stop shooting and start talking. It was the slave power that pushed things to the limit.
Lincoln's bedrock position was that there be no expansion of slavery. He knew slavery would die if it were restricted. The rebels knew it too. That is why the Democratic platform in 1860 advocated securing Cuba -- to help keep the institution profitable and viable for the slave breeders.
It is grotesque to defend them.
Walt