Is Davis a Traitor: Or Was Secession a Constitutional Right Previous to the War of 1861? Annotated.

by Albert Taylor Bledsoe

Now, there is James Wilson, inferior only to Madison and Hamilton in the influence he exerted in favor of the new Constitution, who declares, that the only object aimed at by the Convention of '87, was to enable the States “to confederate anew on better principles;” and if no more could be effected, he would agree to “a partial union of the States, with a door left open for the accession of the rest.” Accordingly, it was finally agreed by the Convention, that nine States might form the new Union, with a door left open for the accession of the other four. In fact, eleven States confederated on the new principles; and it was more than a year before the remaining two States acceded to the compact of the Constitution, and became members of the Union.