[WhiskeyPapa]

When the constitution was written, there was no union to preserve.

That would be tough to prove as the Great Seal of the USA dates from 1782 -- five years before the constiutional convention. Pull out a dollar bill and you'll see the words right on it: E Pluribus Unum -- from many, one.

Walt

[doryfunk]

A confederation is a type of union. The 'Great Seal' was drawn up while the colonies were associated under the Articles of Confederation. I quote from those articles, 'I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America".' The States under this union maintained their sovereignty. Again, I quote, "II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence". One of the rights of free people and free States is to establish the government most beneficial to them as stated in out declaration of independence. "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness" Historically it is clear that the right of the people institute new government is theirs. This is what the people of Dixie did in seceding from their former union which had become destructive of their ends.

[doryfunk]

Lincoln's war destroyed volunary union and replaced it with an involuntary one and destroyed "government of the people, for the people, and by the people" which Lincoln claimed to be fighting for.