[jdege]

I find nothing in the Constitution that precludes secession or enumerates a power to the Federal government to preclude it.

That's because the Constitution didn't create the Union, it had already been created - as an explicitly perpetual one.

Every State in the Union had surrendered its right to unilaterally secede. Texas was unique only in that it received permission to secede in advance.

All of that is irrelevant, though. The South would have been allowed to secede peaceably, if it had chosen that path. Instead, it chose war.

[central_va]

Every State in the Union had surrendered its right to unilaterally secede.

After all of the fighting and dying and "reconstructing", the US Constitution is STILL silent on the subject. The Yankees couldn't even get that right. EVERYONE then and now knows that an amendment like that would be DOA, well except you.

[AnalogReigns]

the Constitution didn't create the Union, it had already been created - as an explicitly perpetual one.

Every State in the Union had surrendered its right to unilaterally secede.

State your sources. When and where did ANY state agree to create an "explicitely perpetual" union?

When and where has ANY state "surrendered its right to unilaterally secede?"

[Carry_Okie]

That's because the Constitution didn't create the Union, it had already been created - as an explicitly perpetual one.

Citation please.

[Mr. Silverback]

Dead on.