The idea of Nullification as a tool to curtail federal power is gaining momentum across the country, but in States like New Jersey, the likelihood of our socialist rulers opposing DC is close to zero. However, the idea of South Jersey seceding from the north is something that gets thrown around a lot in political discussions down here in Boondocks Suburbia. The motive for doing this is taxes, since most state tax dollars are spent in the north, people in the south feel rightly exploited.
Prospects for the success of a movement would be high, since New Jersey already had a strong secessionist streak on the local level. Historically, municipalities often split and break away over issues like spending and schooling, whereas the trend in other States has been local consolidation.
Yet, one major roadblock may lie in the constitution itself. Article 4, Section 3 states:
“New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.”
So we (the 8 southern counties) would need permission from Trenton AND Congress, (an impossible feet) or is that just if we want to join back into the Union as the 51st State.
Since the 10th Amendment takes priority, how does the language “reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” effect it? If powers are given to the “states or people,” how do we tell which?
This is all important, because the only way you’ll nullify anything anytime soon this side of the Delaware is if we kick Trenton out of the equation.
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