Texas Secession? Perry, One Third of Texans Are Wrong: Texas Can't Secede

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Legality of secession arguments are fundamentally irrelevant, since this issue was decided on the battlefield and may be again. Mr. Schlesinger's crystal ball which furnishes him with his numbers needs calibration. A large majority of Texans are disgusted with the federal government's commitment to marxist principles and are thoroughly outraged with its supporters. Don't take my word for it, just watch. I don't think we will secede any time very soon, but we will not stand by and watch submissively while the democratic republic we helped build and many of us served in war be destroyed by people who have done neither.

Ed Davis of TX 12:07AM November 14, 2012

Wow, I just have to post a couple of comments on this topic. One, John A, who are you calling unpatriotic cowards and what gives you the right to call anyone that? As for "reclaiming our government" I believe that millions of us tried to do just that in this last election only to have all our votes flushed because Texas does not have enough electoral votes to make a difference. Two, Kicktexaspants, deport us to where? That has to be the dumbest idea I've heard in a long time. No one is going to force secession on anyone else. Unlike Washington DC, here the minority will not force their decisions on the majority. Texas will not secede from the US, and the ones that think it will happen soon are not considering all the ramifications. I am a proud Texan, my family has lived here since Texas was a republic, and I feel that Big Government is wrong for everybody, but I don't believe that Texas should consider seceding at this time. Maybe sometime in the future it may be a better option, but it's not in anyone's best interest to pursue this now.

DRTDaughter of TX 11:46PM November 13, 2012

I'm surprised that the Texas right has so many unpatriotic cowards. They believe (I do not) that the United States government has been corrupted to illegitimate ends. Rather than stay and attempt to reclaim their government, they want to leave America and take the state of Texas with them. If the majority of Texans don't want to go with them (as current polls indicate), how much farther will they retreat rather than defending what they believe in?

John A of TX 5:37PM November 13, 2012

I have a better idea. Let's deport every single one of you morons who thinks he can twist history to fit his ignorant, egotistical alternate universe -- you know, the one where a small neoconservative minority makes decisions for the rest of the population. Not sure Mexico would want you, but I hear Somalia has a REALLY, REALLY small government.

KickTexasPants of CO 12:50PM November 13, 2012

Q: Didn’t the outcome of the “Civil War” prove that secession is not an option for any State?
A: No. It only proved that, when allowed to act outside his lawfully limited authority, a U.S. president is capable of unleashing horrendous violence against the lives, liberty, and property of those whom he pretends to serve. The Confederate States (including Texas) withdrew from the Union lawfully, civilly, and peacefully, after enduring several decades of excessive and inequitable federal tariffs (taxes) heavily prejudiced against Southern commerce. Refusing to recognize the Confederate secession, Lincoln called it a "rebellion" and a "threat" to "the government" (without ever explaining exactly how "the government" was "threatened" by a lawful, civil, and peaceful secession) and acted outside the lawfully defined scope of either the office of president or the U.S. government in general, to coerce the South back into subjugation to Northern control.
The South's rejoining the Union at the point of a bayonet in the late 1860s didn't prove secession is "not an option" or unlawful. It only affirmed that violent coercion can be used—even by governments (if unrestrained)—to rob men of their very lives, liberty, and property.
It bears repeating that the united States are "united" explicitly on the principle that "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed" and "whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends [i.e., protecting life, liberty, and property], it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government" and "when a long train of abuses and usurpations...evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."
From: http://www.texassecede.com/faq.htm

James of TX 12:04AM November 13, 2012

Personally, I think he knows more to the factual side of this than is let on. Otherwise, there would be no need for petitioning. it would be a straight-up "Screw this, we're gone, suckos!" situation by this point. Second, is the idea of Texas leaving the Union such an embarrassing concept, really? Many would flock to to Texas if they knew we'd be leaving the US, and when 18 other states follow suit with petitions immediately afterwards.... well that should tell you what the people REALLY think of our wonderful government

SD Houston of TX 10:08PM November 12, 2012

No such provision is found in the current Texas Constitution[1](adopted in 1876) or the terms of annexation.[2] However, it does state (in Article 1, Section 1) that “Texas is a free and independent State, subject only to the Constitution of the United States...” (note that it does not state “...subject to the President of the United States...” or “...subject to the Congress of the United States...” or “...subject to the rest of the United States...”)
Neither the Texas Constitution, nor the Constitution of the united States, explicitly or implicitly disallows the secession of Texas (or any other “free and independent State”) from the United States. Joining the “Union” was ever and always voluntary, rendering voluntary withdrawal an equally lawful and viable option (regardless of what any self-appointed academic, media, or government “experts”—including Abraham Lincoln himself—may have ever said).
Both the original (1836) and the current (1876) Texas Constitutions also state that “All political power is inherent in the people ... they have at all times the inalienable right to alter their government in such manner as they might think proper.”
Likewise, each of the united States is “united” with the others explicitly on the principle that “governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed” and “whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends [i.e., protecting life, liberty, and property], it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government” and “when a long train of abuses and usurpations...evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” [3]
Source(s):
http://www.texassecede.com/faq.asp

Randy of TX 5:16PM November 12, 2012

thanks for article.
I am for Texas secession as our state is uniquely positioned.
In terms of globalization, we would be recognized (which we already are in the world) as a special economic zone. Better relations with mexico and latin america would result.
I don't understand your lack of thinking outside the box.
No one doubts there is a texas identity. Formal structures would be beneficial.
You must admt the overall system is broken and ultimately unsustainable as it currently stands.
Ignoring the problem and printing more money was just a short-term strategy to get you a second term. The problems are still there but even larger now.
Why not seriously step aside when others are trying to find a solution?
Let us secede in order to deal more effectively and efficiently with 21st century problems of our region. Making fun of texans is a silly pasttime of the indoctrinated, supposedly educated elite of the eastern and western coasts. I do not believe texans are dumb.

minority female of TX 4:49PM November 12, 2012

After the Texans won over the Bears last night, Texans should re-think voting for the TEA-Republican fanatical fringe running in Austin. After Texas A&M won over Alabama's Crimson Saturday, Texans should re-think voting for the TEA-Republican "deer in the headlights" fringe in Austin.

Rudy Gonzales of TX 1:48PM November 12, 2012