[DiogenesLamp]

“The Constitution would not have been ratified if James Madison, who was unequaled in among delegates for scholarship of political organizations, had not with others supported positions that states retained sufficient sovereignty to secede as the last resort to a political impasse created by perceived usurpations or abuses of the federal government. This point was further emphasized by the fact the perpetual relationship language binding the colonies and colonists in the Articles of Confederation did not carry over into the Constitution.”

+1.

Although 30 years later, Madison was against secession.

[Retain Mike]

In my essay when I covered secession I included the below three references, but I think it is mentioned also in the Federalist Papers and James Madison’s notes to the Constitutional Convention. The original opinions are valid for me because those are the ones that enabled forming the country. Forcing another interpretation sounds like unilaterally voiding the original contract and the Union forces certainly achieved that result.

I am not sure if the last reference is the one where he speaks against secession, because I was left with the impression that the context of the discussion concerns nullification. He made the point to me that a state cannot receive the benefits of the national union while concurrently deciding to selectively obey its laws.

In terms of a general right to secede, the 20th century provides an example of peaceful secession with Czechoslovakia and brutal separation with Yugoslavia.

James Madison, Secession, & State Sovereignty

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.war.civil.usa/p5V_C8Hm8yw

Do States Have a Right of Secession?

https://www.capitalismmagazine.com/2002/04/do-states-have-a-right-of-secession/

James Madison on Secession

https://almostchosenpeople.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/james-madison-on-secession/