Defeat in battle merely ilustrates the superior power. Right or wrong doesn’t enter into it. Viz: right of secession.
barbra ann
That isn't what you contended. You said issues could never be settled by force of arms. That one side loses doesn't make the issue any less settled. When one side surrenders, it acquiesces to the rules and conditions of the winner, upon pain of enforcement. When one side loses a court battle, it is no different: they choose to abide under pain of enforcement by legal penalties. The point is that the issue is settled when the loser decided to acquiesce.