Hi there!
I'm Distruizionopolis (aka Distruzio) and I'm NSG's resident Eastern Orthodox reactionary monarchist from America. In light of the recent referendum in Scotland and the rise of threadjacking in the thread pertaining to that referendum, I decided to make a separate thread about secessionism in America.
Simply put, do you think secession is a fundamental right? Do you think it's legal?
Over the past 8 years, my opinions on the matter have changed. I used to (as the Southron Nation) argue in favor of the right of secession. While I yet maintain that the right of secession exists, I now see that it does not exist as is usually trumpeted. What I mean is that secession is illegal here in the US but remains a fundamental right of the several states so long as Congress concedes.
SCOTUS declared, following the war for Southern Secession, that unilateral secession was illegal. SCOTUS had already made it clear that they maintained the authority to interpret the constitution. Therefore, what SCOTUS says sticks. Had the South won the war, the right of unilateral secession would have been redressed for those states successfully seceded. I rather doubt the Union would have resisted the urge to make clear, in no uncertain terms, that any further secession would not have been allowed - be that legislatively, constitutionally, or via SCOTUS declaration. It makes no difference. It's very likely that the Union, faced with a dangerous threat on her southern borders, would have done whatever was necessary to stymie the political convulsions secession wrought - after all, she invaded herself (if we take Lincolns argument that there never was a secession because secession was impossible for granted).
So what do you think, dear reader? Is secession a fundamental right? Why or why not?
Further, would you support a referendum here in the United States to allow secession with Congressional approval?
I would. Although, now that I'm a bit more mature in my thinking I see that the Union provides more than she takes so I wouldn't support any referendum actually voting for secession. I'd like to let the mouth breathers and the ideologically pure have their say. If America is to be a republic then it's important, in my mind, that folks be allowed to actually voice their opinion (however ill advised that action be). So, even though I'd oppose secession, I'd favor allowing a referendum to take place.
I find that, in abandoning conservatism in favor of tory reactionism, my hostility to federalism as it evolved has abated so much so that previous opinions I might have had about the value of the Union are, now, reversed. I see, through a reactionary lens, that the Constitution created a more centralized (while still federal) nation was both necessary and proper and I agree with Jefferson that the Constitution must be a living document - able to evolve and adapt to the change of culture and society. If we insist that the Constitution be strictly interpreted according to textualism then the document is a dead letter - toilet paper has more value. But, on the other hand, if we accept that the Constitution be strictly interpreted according to originalism then vibrancy and life can be discerned - a healthy nation will result.
