Can A State Secede?

The rig'it oí a Stifo to ''pack op" and gv out of the Union, or in other words 'o ieoole, nnd thud bre;ik up Iliis conlodoruoy of States is the all ubsorbing quewtion. Theolii artiula ol confedoration providad for a unión fnreccr, and the pruatnblü to the present Con Btitution doolaroa that it is nrdaioed by ''We, t! :,■ peoplo of thu Unitod Staten, 'va order to próvido a more perfect unum.'" Im tluit unión moro pjrfcct if either of tho partías lojt can disaolvo I it at pleasjro ? What was j ranoous opinión? Soino of tho Statas t hositated about aecopting tha ncw Con. j stitntion in lien of ti .- old articles of i confederaron, and proposod a condition:il ralifioition ; but in each case, aftor ;i full and frmk discussion, it was held that thero was mi such thing as a oonditíonal or partía] acceptance, that Strttos uould not como into tho Union ou trial, tbat ouce in they wevnforeocr n, and eould not go out aftor five, sev en or rnoru yoars. Tliero is abundant toiiiinony on thia point, but at present wo vrill ret content with qnoting a letter f rom Jamks Madison' to Alsxa.vder Iíamilton', who had addressed him in relation toa proposed contingent ratification, hoping that tbo disuatisfacüon of New York would woar off, and that sho would romain permanently in ibe Union. To his suggeetions, MrMadison responded : New Tors, Suiniay Erening. "My Dear Sik : Yotinj of ye6terday is this instant at hand, aod I have but a few minuten to aoawer it. I am sorry that your tituutioo obliges you to listen to propositions oí the natura you describe. My opiniou is that a reservution ot a right to withdraw, if amendnients bo not decided on under the form of tho C'onstitulion vi liin a certaiu time, is i conditional ratifluation; that it doos not mako New York a rnember of the now Union, and consequently that sho should not be received on thut. plan Compacta must be reciprocal ; this principie wouM not in such caso be preserved. The Conslttution requires an adopción in toto and fokkver. It luis been so adopted by the other States. An adop.iou for a lirnited time would bc as defectivo aa an adnption of senne oí tho articles only. In short, any condition whatever must vitirèto tho ratification What the new Congres?, by virluo of the power to adinit new Ötatetfj may bo ablo and disposed to do in nucí! a case I do not inquire and I suppose tbat is not the material point at present. I have not a moment to add more tlian iny fervent wishes for your auccess and happiness. The idea of reseroing the ngJil to withdraw wat starled at Richmond, and ewuidered at a eondttional ratification, which was itse{f abandoncd - icors' than rejection. "Youre, JAMES MADIsON." And Madisos's opinión was altnost the universal opinión. No contingent ratification was considerad possible ; no right to withdraw was reserved by any State, no diusolution waa provided for, and no right was conlerred upon Congress to recognizo the aecessioo of a State and acknowledge iU independencc. The Constitution was not considered :la rope oi sand" but binding forercr ; and thero is no such thing aa peacenble, atnicablo ecession. There may bo rebelüoD, civil war, and a general breakïng ap, but may the evil day be lonjí postponed. But, if it bo postponed there mustbe concesaion at the north. The North must abide by the Constitution and its compromisos or il can not demand obedience of the South. Does the North dosire a permanent Union ? We sh&ll see.