[justshutupandtakeit]

If you care to check you will find that NO founders believed in a unilateral right of withdrawal from the Union. Why don't you see what Madison said about it? And don't trot out the 10th amendment as an argument it had NOTHING to do with anything which would change the Union merely acknowledged States having the right to adopt their own judicial codes and regulations WITHIN their borders as long as they were consistent with the US constitution.

There is only ONE way to change the constitution- by amendment. A state could legally secede ONLY if an amendment were to be passed allowing it.

[Age of Reason]

A state could legally secede ONLY if an amendment were to be passed allowing it.

Does it say that in the constitution?

[4CJ]

If you care to check you will find that NO founders believed in a unilateral right of withdrawal from the Union.

One: Justice James Wilson in the national convention,

If the minority of the people of America refuse to coalesce with the majority on just and proper principles, if a separation must take place, it could never happen on better grounds. ... the question will be shall less than ¼ of the U. States withdraw themselves from the Union, or shall more than ¾ renounce the inherent, indisputable, and unalienable rights of men, in favor of the artificial systems of States.

Two: Justice John Marshall on 10 Jun 1788,

'Is not liberty secure with us, where the people hold all powers in their own hands, and delegate them cautiously, for short periods, to their servants, who are accountable for the smallest mal-administration?'

'We are threatened with the loss of our liberties by the possible abuse of power, notwithstanding the maxim, that those who give may take away. It is the people that give power, and can take it back. What shall restrain them? They are the masters who give it, and of whom their servants hold it.'

Three: Madison in Federalist No. 45,

Were the plan of the convention adverse to the public happiness, my voice would be, Reject the plan. Were the Union itself inconsistent with the public happiness, it would be, Abolish the Union.

Four: Justice Paterson of New Jersey,

'The constitution ... is the supreme law of the land; it is paramount to the power of the legislature, and can be revoked or altered only by the authority that made it.

Five: George Washington, in a letter to Henry Knox in 1788,

'I cannot but hope then, that the States which may be disposed to make a secession will think often and seriously on the consequence.'

Finally, add to that all of those signing the ratifications of New York, Virginia, and Rhode Island & Providence Plantatations - they stated that 'the powers of government may be reassumed by the people whensoever it shall become necessary to their happiness.' And add all those signing the Constitution in the federal convention (39), which seceded from the Articles, and those in each state convention, similarly seceding from the Articles. Delaware (30), Pennsylvania (42), New Jersey (38), Georgia (26), Connecticut (128), Massachusetts (187), Maryland (63), South Carolina (149), New Hampshire (57), Virginia (89), New York (30), North Carolina (194), and Rhode Island & Providence Plantations (34).

4,037 men believed in secession, just counting those that served in state conventions. And they did it without having to obtain approval from anyone.