I have gone back and read all of the versions of both the New York State Constitution from 1777 on and the Rhode Island Constitution of 1842. I have be unable to find the chapter and sections authorizing Secession. I may have missed them. Please give me the applicable Article and sections for these constitutions, would like to read them.
New York Ratification document, 26 July 1788:
“That the Powers of Government may be resumed by the People, whensoever it shall become necessary to their Happiness; that every Power, Jurisdiction and right which is not by the said Constitution clearly delegated to the Congress of the United States, or the departments of the government thereof, remains to the People of the several States, or to their respective State Governments to whom they may have granted the same.”
Rhode Island ratification document, 29 May 1790.
“That the powers of government may be resumed by the people, whensoever it shall become necessary to their happiness: That the rights of the States respectively to nominate and appoint all State Officers, and every other power, jurisdiction and right, which is not by the said constitution clearly delegated to the Congress of the United States or to the departments of government thereof, remain to the people of the several states, or their respective State Governments to whom they may have granted the same.”
Since the power of secession was not specifically granted to the newly created US government, it remained the express right of the individual state.