The Constitution is the instrument of Union. Without it, there is no union. Think of it this way: which is moremimportant, a corporation or it's articles of incorporation? Which is more important, a contract or a contractual agreement? You see, the one is a method of bringing the other into existence. The articles of incorporation is the corporation, the contract is the agreement and the Constitution IS the union. So, I guess that means the Consqtitution is more important, for without it the union ceases to exist. If the it were abolished by convention, the union would cease to exist unless replaced by a new compact. That is why I object to the statement that Lincoln "saved" the union. He did no such thing. What he did was destroy the old, voluntary, union and created a new republic where formerly sovereign states were pinned to the "union's" bosom by bayonet.

Greg