[Colonel Kangaroo]

I dare say the writer was right, as was I. Lincoln's war "saved" the union geographically, but it destroyed it philosophically as the country became a consolidated empire as opposed to a constitutional republic of sovereign states. That, my friend, is the undeniable truth. And thank you Mr. Lincoln.

There may have always been a few that maintained that the states were sovereign, but there is also a long tradition of those who held Lincoln's view-Lincoln did not originate this. From James Monroe's first inauguration address:

"Under this Constitution our commerce has been wisely regulated with foreign nations and between the States; new States have been admitted into our Union; our territory has been enlarged by fair and honorable treaty, and with great advantage to the original States; the States, respectively protected by the National Government under a mild, parental system against foreign dangers, and enjoying within their separate spheres, by a wise partition of power, a just proportion of the sovereignty, have improved their police..."

A just proportion of sovereignty within separate spheres is not the absolute sovereignty claimed by the secessionists. Monroe and Lincoln held the same position on this.

[Lee'sGhost]

"There may have always been a few that maintained that the states were sovereign,. . ."

Oh, you mean like the states that put it in their constitutions? That fact aside, your whole statement is BS. You would have me believe that the states willfully joined a club they believed they were not allowed to quit? That flys in the face of the whole revolution. I defy you to show me anything from the era that suggests MOST people thought they were joining a union they did not have the ability to quit.