All,

Secession was an acknowledged consitutional right of the states, and  
many had joined the union in the first place with express provision  
that they could "opt out".  Even Daniel Webster, Senator from  
Massachussetts, spoke in support of the right of secession in 1851.   
William Seward, however, seems to have summed up the changing  
attitudes in the North with his quote, "There is a higher law than  
the constitution."

This is, however, all now moot.

Craig K

On Jun 26, 2008, at 3:09 PM, Ed Truslow wrote:

> Sam,
>
> I believe that there was an honest belief by Southern states,  
> shared by many in the North, that secession was a constitutional  
> right for whatever reason a state chose to exercise it.  The words  
> "perpetual union" were not enshrined in the constitution.   
> Certainly there was and still is a divided opinion on the legality  
> of secession.
>
> Those who believe that secession was a legal act, are perforce ill  
> treated by those who mock the use of the term "War of Northern  
> Aggression".
>
> Ed Truslow
> Williamsburg
>

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