Former Whig (nationalist) Representative Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, in Galena, delivers his “We won’t let you secede,” speech, on behalf of former Democratic (constitutionalist) Senator John C. Fremont, Republican (nationalist) nominee for president:
The voluntary Union, in any event, won’t be dissolved. We don’t want you to dissolve it, and if you attempt it, we won’t let you. With the purse and the sword, the army and navy and treasury in our hands and at our command, you couldn’t do it. (emphasis added)
[restored 2/21/2022]
Subsequent Events:
Authority:
Article I of Amendment
ccc-2point0.com/constitution-for-the-united-states
References:
James Ostrowski, “Was the Union Army’s Invasion of the Confederate States a Lawful Act? An Analysis of President Lincoln’s Legal Arguments Against Secession, “Secession, State and Liberty, David Gordon, ed., (New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Transaction, 1998), 159, 171.
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2.
quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A378
Current U.s. National Debt:
