[BroJoeK]

higgmeister: "The comparison is exactly the same circumstance because secession was not illegal, it was an understood right."

Our Founders believed in a "right of secession" under two, but only two conditions:

1. Secession from necessity as existed in 1776, more than a year after the Brits had, in effect, declared war and begun waging war against Americans.

2. Secession by mutual consent as existed in 1788 when the colonies all voted to "secede" from the old Articles of Confederation to their new Constitution.

Neither condition existed in 1860 and so Southern Fire Eaters declared secession at pleasure, which our Founders would consider nothing more than rebellion & treason.
No Founder ever supported such actions, and all opposed them, for examples:

1. Shay's Rebellion -- 1786, lead to the new Constitutional Convention of 1787.

2. Whiskey Rebellion -- under Pres. Washington, who raised up a large army, to be lead by Virginia's Light Horse Harry Lee, to suppress the rebels in Western PA.

3. Alien & Sedition Acts -- aimed at potential French sympathizers under Pres. Adams during the Quazi War against France.

4. Former VP Aaron Burr's attempted secession of Louisiana, which lead to Pres. Jefferson hunting Burr down, arresting and trying him for treason.

5. The New England Hartford Convention -- threatened secession under Pres. Monroe, leading Monroe to move troops to invade New England, if necessary.

So, bottom line: our Founders well understood unjustified secession and rebellion and all opposed it.

[GranTorino]

Nice post explaining leaving an oppressive government.

[DiogenesLamp]

Our Founders believed in a "right of secession" under two, but only two conditions:

Here you go again, trying to make up history when the real history doesn't support what you wish to believe.

[BroJoeK]

"The New England Hartford Convention -- threatened secession under Pres. Monroe, leading Monroe to move troops to invade New England, if necessary."

Sorry my bad. As"x" pointed out, it was President "Father of the Constitution" Madison, not Monroe.