'But we have rights which the federal government must not invade - rights superior to its power, on which our sovereignty depends; and we do mean to assert these rights against all tyrannical assuptions of authority.'
Salmon P. Chase, 19 Aug 1854
may i also point out that the STATES created the federal government. NOT the other way around.
the STATES are FREE to modify, separate from,add states to (and, if necessary, ABOLISH!) the union at ANY time that the STATES/citizens choose to do so.
the union is NOT perpetual, despite the protestations of the LEFT!
to quote Thomas Jefferson (as i frequently do), "When the people fear the government there is TYRANNY;when the government fears the people there is LIBERTY!"
free dixie,sw
Who denies there were some sovereign powers possessed by states even the Bill of Rights did not apply to them in 1860? Did not the federal government recognize a sovereign "right" of some states to legalize slavery and others not to?
The point is no state had the right to unilaterally change the constitution, that sovereignty was never possessed nor renounced since the American People predated the Articles, the States and the Constitution all of which were an expression of that People. Unite or Die was the only choice. Forces of the Slavers joined the forces of death.
There were "NO tyrannical assumptions of authority" except by those attempting to attack the United States of America and those assumptions were trumped by the magnificent leader Abraham Lincoln.