That's not all it says.
The Constitution also promises that each state shall be guaranteed a republican form of government. Sort of hard to do if a state withdraws, isn't it?
The Constitution also promises in Article Four Section One, Para. 1 that "the Citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states." Sort of hard to do if a state may withdraw, isn't it?
Your position is absurd.
"The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all."
-- George Washington, Farewell Address
It was Lincoln who maintained this position against all comers.
Walt
Walt you make this so tedious with your misleading selective memory about what the Constitution says. The Constitution says:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government..."
So while in the Union, they're guaranteed a republican form of government. There's no implication whatsoever in that text, that the States have to stay in the Union. In fact, the words "in this Union" imply that there may be other states, like Rhode Island did for 2 years, who may wish to remain out of the Union. Again, the Union that Washington wanted was voluntary. The union that Lincoln wanted was involuntary.
In fact, Licoln violated that very clause in Article IV when he clapped Maryland's legislature in irons. I wouldn't call that guaranteeing them a republican form of Government, but you might. Had he declared war on Maryland too? Perhaps you think a Republican form of Government can exist, minus the privilege of writ of Habeas Corpus?
This is just another example, like your statement about how Article VI makes the federal govt. "supreme", of how you mentally tailor the Constitution to suit your reconstructed view of history.