Rick Perry vs. Lincoln
In the past year there has been some comments, including from Texas Governor Rick Perry, about Texas seceding from the United States. The same things have been said about Alaska. Perhaps we should listen to President Lincoln speak about this:
Descending from these general principles, we find the proposition that, in legal contemplation, the Union is perpetual, confirmed by the history of the Union itself. The Union is much older than the Constitution. It was formed in fact, by the Articles of Association in 1774. It was matured and continued by the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It was further matured and the faith of all the then thirteen States expressly plighted and engaged that it should be perpetual, by the Articles of Confederation in 1778. And finally, in 1787, one of the declared objects for ordaining and establishing the Constitution, was “to form a more perfect Union.” But if [the] destruction of the Union, by one, or by a part only, of the States, be lawfully possible, the Union is less perfect than before the Constitution, having lost the vital element of perpetuity.
It follows from these views that no State, upon its own mere motion, can lawfully get out of the Union, — that resolves and ordinances to that effect are legally void, and that acts of violence, within any State or States, against the authority of the United States, are insurrectionary or revolutionary, according to circumstances.
Indeed, Lincoln’s entire first inaugural is all about making the case against succession.
The talk of Texas seceding may be good fun for some, but of course no one should take it seriously. After all, the last time Texas seceded things didn’t turn out too well.
