"It has been observed, to coerce the states is one of the maddest projects that was ever devised. A failure of compliance will never be confined to a single state This being the case, can we suppose it wise to hazard a civil war? Suppose Massachusetts, or any large state, should refuse, and Congress should attempt to compel them, would they not have influence to procure assistance, especially from those states which are in the same situation as themselves? What picture does this idea present to our view? A complying state at war with a non-complying state; Congress marching the troops of one state into the bosom of another; this state collecting auxiliaries, and forming, perhaps, a majority against its federal head. Here is a nation at war with itself. Can any reasonable man be well disposed towards a government which makes war and carnage the only means of supporting itself -- a government that can exist only by the sword? Every such war must involve the innocent with the guilty. This single consideration should be sufficient to dispose every peaceable citizen against such a government."
Alexander Hamilton, The Debates In The Convention Of The State Of New York, On The Adoption Of The Federal Constitution. 20 Jun 1788.
Yes, they can stand undisturbed because only a moron would suggest that the Union be dissolved.
Saturday June 8. They proceeded to take it into consideration and referred it to a committee of the whole, into which they immediately resolved themselves, and passed that day & Monday the 10th in debating on the subject.
It was argued by Wilson, Robert R. Livingston, E. Rutledge, Dickinson and others
That tho' they were friends to the measures themselves, and saw the impossibility that we should ever again be united with Gr. Britain, yet they were against adopting them at this time:
That the conduct we had formerly observed was wise & proper now, of deferring to take any capital step till the voice of the people drove us into it:
That they were our power, & without them our declarations could not be carried into effect; That the people of the middle colonies (Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylva, the Jerseys & N. York) were not yet ripe for bidding adieu to British connection, but that they were fast ripening & in a short time would join in the general voice of America:
That the resolution entered into by this house on the 15th of May for suppressing the exercise of all powers derived from the crown, had shown, by the ferment into which it had thrown these middle colonies, that they had not yet accommodated their minds to a separation from the mother country:
That some of them had expressly forbidden their delegates to consent to such a declaration, and others had given no instructions, & consequently no powers to give such consent:
That if the delegates of any particular colony had no power to declare such colony independant, certain they were the others could not declare it for them; the colonies being as yet perfectly independant of each other:
That the assembly of Pennsylvania was now sitting above stairs, their convention would sit within a few days, the convention of New York was now sitting, & those of the Jerseys & Delaware counties would meet on the Monday following, & it was probable these bodies would take up the question of Independance & would declare to their delegates the voice of their state:
That if such a declaration should now be agreed to, these delegates must retire & possibly their colonies might secede from the Union:
Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography by Thomas Jefferson 1743 -- 1790
There you have it Walt. James Wilson (remember he's against secession), when confronted with the possibility that the Declaration of Independence would be issued in June declared that he and his cohorts were going to secede. I guess you were right. Only a MORON would suggest the Union be dissolved.
Well, aren't you talking about a period even before the signing of the D of I? There was no union to dissolve then. You seem a bit unclear on the concept.
James Wilson was a staunch federalist. He was beaten half to death for his federalist views. Later he was a Supreme Court justice.
It was he who said that for the purposes of the Union, Georgia is not a sovereign state. You know, that James Wilson.
Wilson is an odd bird. He was also a big time speculator in land, and died penniless. If you ever watch "1776", the play or film, this is the same guy that Benajamn Franklin tricks into voting for independence.
Walt