[DiogenesLamp]

"The characteristic distinction between free Governments and Governments not free is, that the former are founded on compact, not between the Government and those for whom it acts, but between the parties creating the Government. Each of those being equal, neither can have more rights to say that the compact has been violated and dissolved, than every other has to deny the fact, and to insist on the execution of the bargains." - James Madison

With all due respect to Mr. Madison, the Declaration's statement on the rights of a people, trump his personal opinions. If God and natural law gave them the right to break from England, it gives people the right to break from any other form of government as well.

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "With all due respect to Mr. Madison, the Declaration's statement on the rights of a people, trump his personal opinions.
If God and natural law gave them the right to break from England, it gives people the right to break from any other form of government as well. "

No Founder ever claimed that "God and natural law" gave them the right to break free from England, "at pleasure", only from actual necessity or from mutual consent.
Since neither condition existed in 1860, secessionists declared their independence "at pleasure".