‘‘We, the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts — not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution.’’
— Abraham Lincoln
If Lincoln would have adhered faithfully to the Constitution and the laws, there was no need for over 600,000 deaths in the War of Northern Aggression:
That much as Virginia disapproved it, if Mr. Lincoln would only adhere faithfully to the Constitution and the laws, she [Virginia] would support him just as faithfully as though he were the man of her choice, and would wield her whole moral force to keep the border States in the Union, and to bring back the seven seceded States.
…
Colonel Baldwin assured him solemnly that such advisers fatally misunderstood the South, and especially Virginia, and that upon the relinquishment or adoption of the policy of violent coercion, peace or a dreadful war would inevitably turn. Lincoln’s native good sense, with Colonel Baldwin’s evident sincerity, seemed now to open his eyes to this truth. He slid off the edge of the bed, and began to stalk in his awkward manner across the chamber, in great excitement and perplexity. He clutched his shaggy hair, as though he would jerk out handfuls by the roots; he frowned and contorted his features, exclaiming: “I ought to have known this sooner! You are too late, sir, too late! Why did you not come here four days ago, and tell me all this?” turning almost fiercely upon Colonel Baldwin.
“Abraham Lincoln did not cause the death of so many people from a mere love of slaughter, but only to bring about a state of consent that could not otherwise be secured for the government he had undertaken to administer.”
~ Lysander Spooner
All those people, property, ruined lives, loss of life changed because of a few bureaucrats once again. Things haven’t changed. The more things change the more things stay the same.
Ah, the tyrant that crushed did more to destroy liberty than any other president in our history.