The fallacious notion that "The Union is older than the States and in fact created them as States. The Union, and not themselves separately, procured their independence and their liberty. [T]he Union threw off their old dependence for them and made them States, such as they are." is the essence of Lincoln's, and your, sophistry and I know that you will argue it forever but you will STILL be wrong!
Because you say so. Thanks for clearing that up.