[Svartalfiar]

Well, yes. That’s what I said: There is no legal mechanism in the U.S. Constitution that allows for secession. That’s a fact.

I suppose one could argue that since the Constitution does not explicitly prohibit succession, it must somehow be doable. That’s shaky reasoning

So you're saying that everything not allowed by the Constitution is forbidden? In fact, the Constitution explicitly states certain things the states can't do. Then, it also says they can do everything else:

Article I
Section. 10.
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Article the twelfth... The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

[Svartalfiar]

That was supposed to be a reply to 49, not 50.. Not sure how FR manages to swap that around.

[Leaning Right]

I’ve thought about this some more. My post #53:

The 10th Amendment: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

One could fairly argue that since secession is not covered in the Constitution, the 10th Amendment gives that power to states.