The Union Fat Jack - Addendum

And one of the main factors as to why Rhode Island (along with Virginia and New York) eventually did ratify the Constitution was a stipulation which specifically stated that they would also reserve the right to resume ALL governmental powers if in fact the Federal government became oppressive; the right to secede, in other words. And, yes, this claim to the right of secession was  fully understood and agreed upon by virtually every other ratifier; George Washington (who presided over the Constitutional Convention and who was also a key delegate from Virginian) included (Abe Lincoln himself believed this until he became President).