"The denial of the right to secede from a voluntary union is itself a primary justification for secession"
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Vermont
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Declaration of States’ Rights
We, the undersigned resolve the following:
1. The joint Declaration of Independence (1776) by thirteen colonies created free, independent and sovereign states.
2. The Treaty of Paris (1783) reaffirmed the sovereignty and independence of the original thirteen states. Furthermore that treaty is evidence of international recognition of these thirteen states taking their place among the nations of the world.
3. The United States of America (Federal Government) was born in 1789 with the ratification of the Constitution by free and independent states.
4. The Federal Government was delegated certain and specific powers and duties under The Constitution (Articles I-IV). All other powers, rights and duties are reserved to the States or the People (10th Amendment).
5. The compact that created the Federal Government is akin to a contract, the States and the Federal Government have certain specified responsibilities and certain specified rights; a violation of these rights or a failure to perform specified duties makes the contract nullifiable and voidable.
6. Forty-eight States of the Union joined the compact of their free will; never intending expressly or by implication to surrender powers or rights not clearly outlined in The Constitution.
7. The Constitution is silent on the issue of a state withdrawing from the Union. Unlike the previous Articles of Confederation there is no mention of a “perpetual union”. Amendment 10 to the Constitution states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." We hold that the right to withdraw from the Union is a right of the States.
Be it further resolved that:
8. Hawai’i, an independent and sovereign kingdom prior to annexation by the Federal Government never legally or with consent conceded her sovereignty.
9. Hawai’i must be allowed to vote on the issue of statehood or independence; this vote should include only native-born citizens of Hawai’i, not military troops and other temporary residents who were included in the last ratification vote.
10. Alaska also must be allowed a free and open plebiscite on the issue of statehood or independence, this vote should include only native-born Alaskan citizens, not military troops and other temporary residents as who were included in the last ratification vote.
11. Puerto Rico must be allowed a free and open vote on the issue of commonwealth, statehood or independence. This vote should consist only of native-born citizens who are current residents of Puerto Rico.
Finally we resolve and declare that:
12. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object 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.
As such when the Federal Government exceeds its delegated powers or fails to execute its specified duties and states fail to exercise their rights under the compact of the Constitution the right of The People to abolish those governments and institute new governments is inalienable.
North American * Secession and Independence Movements
*Hawaii and Puerto Rico are obviously not part of North America, no offense intended
Active Secession Movements Around the World
One Nation Indivisible? A Study of Secession and the Constitution