On the recordJuly 4, 1861
Having never been States, either in substance or name, outside of the Union, whence this magical omnipotence of "State-Rights," asserting a claim of power to lawfully destroy the Union itself?
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gutenberg.orgEditor's note · Context
In his message to Congress, Lincoln rhetorically questions the origin of "State-Rights" power to destroy the Union, given that states never existed independently outside of it.
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