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To: Delacon
The constitution is a contract. The penalties for breaking that contract are severe.

Indeed. From Daniel Webster of Massachusetts:

If the South were to violate any part of the Constitution intentionally and systematically, and persist in so doing, year after year, and no remedy could be had, would the North be any longer bound by the rest of it? And if the North were deliberately, habitually, and of fixed purpose to disregard one part of it, would the South be bound any longer to observe its other obligations? I have not hesitated to say, and I repeat, that if the Northern States refuse, willfully and deliberately, to carry into effect that part of the Constitution which respects the restoration of fugitive slaves, and Congress provide no remedy, the South would no longer be bound to observe the compact. A bargain cannot be broken on one side and still bind the other side.

The only way states could legally leave the union is if another constitutional convention was called and some states chose not to attend.

Where does the Constitution lay out the procedure you propose? In fact, where in the Constitution is secession made illegal?

481 posted on 09/01/2007 8:38:28 AM PDT by rustbucket
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To: rustbucket

“Where does the Constitution lay out the procedure you propose? In fact, where in the Constitution is secession made illegal?”

Article 5 of the constitution lays out how the constitution can be changed. It has no provision for breaking this contract. Surely if the founders felt that states could simply walk away from the union they would have allowed for it in the constitution. Article 5 is the closest they come to anything like that. And it don’t come anywhere near to allowing states to abandon the union.


485 posted on 09/01/2007 10:22:02 AM PDT by Delacon
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