[Little Bill]

Where in The Constitution does the right to secede exist? The States voted in, but the right to vote out is not mentioned.

[Vietnam Vet From New Mexico]

Where in the Constitution does it say they cannot secede?

The Constitution grants specified powers to the Federal Government, denies the states certain powers (such as coining money) and states that all other rights are reserved by the states or the people.

Furthermore, several states, north and south, specifically stated in their ratification of the Constitution that if things did not work out, they reserved the right to secede.

[RedMonqey]

Where in The Constitution does the right to secede exist? The States voted in, but the right to vote out is not mentioned.

True. However equally so, NOWHERE does it FORBID states the right to secede either. One could go the easy route and say it is hidden in the Tenth Amendment but one does not have to go there.

In many European societies if the right is not mentioned then it is assumed it does not exist. Divine right of Kings transposed to the State in the modern era. However our founding fathers believed that Man had inalienable rights given by God and stated numerous times in the document and without our constitution of it. States that just because a right is not numerated(mentioned) does not mean it does not exist. It is the reverse. It is assumed man has that right unless strictly forbidden or comes into conflict with the rights of others or powers stated in the constitution.

Although not exactly the same as individual liberties, states also have certain powers that are assumed to them unless expressly denied by or restricted to only the federal government or impedes upon individual rights.

Secession is one of them and Jefferson spoke of it several times in his writtings.

(Mute point anyway. Lincoln settled this one by force....)