Replies

"It would be refreshing if for once a request for factual judgment on one of DiLorenzo's claims would be met with a comment on the facts, or even with a fact, instead of insult and unprovable assertions about motives."

Well, now that the book is available, neither side should have an excuse for not backing up their case with facts, should they. I've been following this debate for some time now and it is not my impression that your side has been lacking in diligence in the use of insults and ad hominem attacks.

DiLorezo is not reliable, though his book may lead us to various truths. I was hoping that some of the many folks here who follow this history intently might have an answer to my question, which I repeat:

: "Is there any direct and explicit statement of a legal right of secession in the whole Founding Era, from 1774 to and including the Hartford Convention? I don't mean such cloudy things as the Virginia "reservation," cited in Williams column, which is, to put it mildly, easily read as a notice of the natural right of Revolution. I seek instead a simple and direct statement of a legal right of secession, preferably using the term itself. If so, could we see get it sourced?"

And I repeat that there may well be such quotations. The name of Timothy Pickering has been mentioned by some in this connection. That is the only one I can recall, and I don't have a quotation from him.

Regards,

Richard F.

I just had a delightful phone call from Senior Academic Fellow at Declaration Foundation, David Quackenbush. He, too, has his copy of the long awaited tome!

Please post your favorite paragraphs as soon as possible.

The book must see the light of day as soon as possible. Really.

Cheers,

Richard F.