In his own view, however, the two Houses of Congress, convened under the twelfth article of the Constitution, have complete power to exclude from counting all electoral votes deemed by them to be illegal, and it is not competent for the Executive to defeat or obstruct that power by a veto, as would be the case if his action were at all essential in the matter.
Message to Congress
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More from Abraham Lincoln
I am considering, and shall not fail to act when satisfied that action will be proper.
I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.
The question is, will it be wiser to take it as it is and help to improve it, or to reject and disperse it?
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.
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