James Blaine: “Lincoln was conservative, and always desired to keep somewhat in the rear rather than too far in advance of the public…”

The right of the General Government to preserve itself in its whole constitutional vigor by repelling a direct and positive aggression upon its property or its officers cannot be denied.

Under such circumstances, to send a military force into any State, with orders to act against the people, would be simply making war upon them.

Is any portion of the people bound to contribute their money or their blood to carry on a contest like that?

Without the exercise of those functions which belong exclusively to the civil service, the laws cannot be executed in any event, no matter what may be the physical strength which the Government has at its command.