[inquest]

Just answer me this: If there had been textual and historical support for the secession doctrine, can you seriously picture the supreme court in 1869 ruling that way? Be honest.

[Non-Sequitur]

Probably not, I would have expected the Supreme Court to rule unilateral secession illegal had it been New England in 1814 or the confederacy in 1861. There is no support for unilateral secession. Even Rawle made it clear that secession was an action which should be made only after consultation with all the affected parties. In the Texas v. White decision, Chief Justice Chase made it clear that secession in and of itself was not out of the question, so long as it was done with consent of the states.