[nolu chan]

[Walt] There is precious little in ther record from the framers regarding "secession", and not one framer can be quoted that there was such a thing as legal unilateral state secession.

CONSTITUTION - RATIFICATION DOCUMENTS

From the June 26, 1788, ratification document of

VIRGINIA

"The People of Virginia declare and make known that the powers granted under the Constitution being derived from the People of the United States may be resumed by them whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury or oppression and that every power not granted thereby remains with them and at their will."

From the June 26, 1788, ratification document of

NEW YORK

"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."

From the May 29, 1790, ratification document of

RHODE ISLAND

"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."

[4CJ]

You are correct of course. He has the idea that if the word "secession" had never been uttered by the founders, that it must never have crossed their mind. I pointed out they did - before ratification. It's in their ratification documents, the debates, and posted by Madison in the Federalist Papers, where UNILATERAL secession was unveiled, irregardless of the wishes of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.

[WhiskeyPapa]

If you read those state documents carefully, you'll see that none of them speaks to legal rights, they all speak to natural rights.

Walt