James Buchanan actually said...

I certainly had no right to make aggressive war upon any State, and I am perfectly satisfied that the Constitution has wisely withheld that power even from Congress.

Context

Special Message

01/07/1861

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...

More James Buchanan Quotes

It should not be forgotten that, in consequence of the diversion of a large part of the letter mail to the overland route, the postages deri...
6/22/1860
The weight of these mails, averaging from 12 to 15 tons semi-monthly, renders it, in view of the climate and character of the road, manifest...
6/22/1860
This bill will open one vast field for speculation.
6/21/1860
It would be a strange anomaly indeed to have created two funds--the one by taxation, confined to the execution of the enumerated powers dele...
6/21/1860

View All James Buchanan Quotes