While the New York convention in 1788 was debating whether to ratify the Constitution, James Madison wrote to a friend in New York that once the decision had been made to ratify, they couldn't change their minds (there was talk of that if no Bill of Rights was added). But that was Madison's personal opinion--and he had been one of the architects of the document that many thought gave too much power to the central government.
I read once that in the very first week of the First Congress, a representative from South Carolina threatened that his state would secede. So much for the understanding of the issue when the Constitution was first adopted.
While the New York convention in 1788 was debating whether to ratify the Constitution, James Madison wrote to a friend in New York that once the decision had been made to ratify, they couldn't change their minds (there was talk of that if no Bill of Rights was added). But that was Madison's personal opinion--and he had been one of the architects of the document that many thought gave too much power to the central government. Funny thing was, Madison was on the committee that drafted Virginia's ratification statement, which clearly says Virginia can resume the powers it gave up to the Federal government.
It literally says Virginia can take back it's powers, so it looks like Madison is on both sides of the issue.
I read once that in the very first week of the First Congress, a representative from South Carolina threatened that his state would secede. So much for the understanding of the issue when the Constitution was first adopted.
The New England states made the claim that they could secede during the Hartford convention in 1814.