Abraham Lincoln: “I recommend that the thanks of Congress be given to the following officers of the United States Navy”

As a general rule I abstain from reading the reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer.

If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business.

Important principles may and must be inflexible.

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.