Quote Originally Posted by Ronin13 View Post
Outside of the 1860's, has a peaceful secession ever been attempted? I would imagine if you had a majority in a certain state decide to it would be possible. We all want to avoid any civil war or violence, and the way states rights have been deteriorated over the last 100 years or so, it would seem their grievances are legitimate and I don't believe there is any law that states a state within the union doesn't have the right to withdraw.
Actually the initial secession by the Confederate states was peaceful ... but then the South Carolinians couldn't stand the thought of armed American troops "occupying" Ft Sumter (and Lincoln certainly wasn't going to order their retreat) and instead of waiting for some sort of peaceful, legal removal of the US troops they just started shooting.

Now considering how many US military outposts there are in Texas, I expect something similar would happen. Even if Texas was allowed to secede, they wouldn't be allowed to expel US troops and certainly wouldn't be allowed to nationalize them. Which probably wouldn't set too well with Texans.


Of course I've been suspicious that all these petitions have shown up on the White House web site ... I smell a rat. Either the White House is collecting the names of "enemies" or they're planning for the eventual dissolution of the US (which would probably be followed soon after with invasion by the Chinese or Russians ... one of which Obama has bowed to, the other he's promised "more flexibility after the election").