Abraham Lincoln: “I submit to Congress the expediency of extending to other Departments of the Government the authority conferred on the…”

Unlike a case of war between independent nations, there is no organized organ for us to treat with,--no one man has authority to give up the rebellion for any other man.

I believe that it is not only possible, but in fact easier, to do this without deciding or even considering whether these States have ever been out of the Union, than with it.

Grant that he desires the elective franchise, will he not attain it sooner by saving the already advanced steps towards it, than by running backward over them?

If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.