Did the CSA have the right to succede from the Union?

Question

I realize that this question may not warrant a simple answer... But I am curious as to your opinions on the matter. In 1860, was the United States a voluntary confederation, or a perpetual federal union?

I am especially interested in Texas' right to succede, since it was without a doubt an independant nation before surrendering its sovereignty by joining the Union, and not just a territory that was 'statified'.

Answer 1

Obviously the federal government felt the union was not secede-able, if that's a word. Once in, you're stuck!

Those who wanted out of course saw it differently.

I think if the South had put it before the Supreme Court, rather than bone-headedly firing on Fort Sumter, things could have been settled a lot more peacefully.

Answer 2

That`s the question that the civil war was fought over, not slavery, as some suppose. Slavery was a hot issue, and thats what divided the north and south. The Confederate states decided to secede from the union, and the northj said'you can`t do that'. Because the north won, by power of might, they won the right of an undisolveable union.

Answer 3

Yes, they did have the right to secede - especially Texas. The US was formed after separation from England on the basis of John Locke's theory that the people have the right to rebel if they are not satisfied with their government. Just because the North won does not make them right. And I'm from Pennsylvania. Heck, even Massachusetts threatened to secede at the time of the War of 1812 primarily because they didn't want the war hurting their income from shipping.

Answer 4

Apparently not. They tried, and it didn't work. The only rights Texas has to this day is to divide itself into six or eight states, in order to increase the number of senators from the Texas territory as a whole. Texas has never exercised this right.