The American declaration of independence, which is a manifest notice of secession[1], states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that [is to say] they are endowed by their Creator 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.” So, if an individual perceives that the Government is not securing his inalienable rights, or if he believes that it is abridging them, how is that individual supposed to “alter” the form of government, let alone “abolish” it altogether? The answer is, he can't.

Add to that what Lysander Spooner wrote: “To join, or support, one that would, in his opinion, be inefficient, would be absurd. To join or support one that, in his opinion, would itself do injustice, would be criminal”, and we can see why the law itself must provide a remedy, for those who do not wish to be “absurd” or “criminal”.

Lex semper dabit remedium. The law always gives a remedy. 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 2411. ~ Maxim of Law from Bouvier's 1856 Law Dictionary


So what is that lawful remedy? It is called “Individual Secession”.


Let's start this discussion by discovering what "secession" is. The simplicity of its "legal definition" may surprise some of you.


Secession. The act of withdrawing from membership in a group. ~ Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition (c.1991), page 1351


Secession is, many times, confused with expatriation.


Expatriation. The voluntary act of abandoning or renouncing one's country, and becoming the citizen or subject of another. ~ Ibid., page 576


Secession and expatriation, as we can readily see, are two entirely different acts!


When an individual chooses to secede he/she only withdraws from membership in the "political community", i.e. the GOVERNMENT, he/she does not have to abandon his/her native COUNTRY nor is he/she required to "become the citizen or subject of another [country]".

 

"Secession means the right to stay put, on one’s own property, and either to shift alliance to another political entity, or to set up shop as a sovereign on one’s own account." ~ Walter Block

 

One more thing which should be pointed out about the American declaration of independence is that it also says, “...and to institute new Government...”. So, what “new Government” can the individual institute? The following quote from Secession: The Last, Best Bulwark of Our Liberties by Clyde Wilson may answer that question.

"The right of self-government rests on the right to withdraw consent from an oppressive government. That is the only really effective restriction on power, in the last analysis." [Emphasis added]


The only answer possible, for the individual, is “self-government”.

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[1] "The Declaration of Independence was and is, no more and no less, than a document justifying secession." ~ Donald Livingston, PhD--Emory University