[Ditto]

The point is, that if four of them chose to leave, the Constitution would have taken effect for the other 9 without them. Wouldn't it have?

The point Madison was making in 1787 was that states should not be compelled to accept the Constitution. If 4 had decided to not accept, so be it, the Union would go on without them. But once they accepted, they were bound to it and could not withdraw without the agreement of the others just as they could not be expelled by the others without their consent.

[Arkinsaw]

The point Madison was making in 1787 was that states should not be compelled to accept the Constitution. If 4 had decided to not accept, so be it, the Union would go on without them. But once they accepted, they were bound to it and could not withdraw without the agreement of the others just as they could not be expelled by the others without their consent.

Thats your opinion. But that is not stated explicitly and in fact some States specifically said otherwise in their ratification documents.