What I see is a largely unreadable handwritten document that speaks of “The President” in the third person. Further, it has no date nor signature.
Yes, Lincoln's handwriting is messy, but you are grasping at straws in your attempt to reject the fact that Lincoln wrote those words. Lincoln did in fact write those words.
If you can't read it, I gave you the link to the source, and you can just hit the button that says "Transcript."
Do a text search on the Transcript, and you will find the relevant text.
After that, you will have to argue that people entrusted with keeping some of Lincolns documents are liars or something.
If you are an honest man, you will come to the conclusion that in 1848 Lincoln believed people had a right to secede from governments that they believed didn't suit their interests, but by 1861 he had decided to claim that he didn't believe this.
Gaffer & Diogenes - with all due respect, I must say the following:
1) I don’t know either of you.
2) I don’t have anything against either of you.
3) I am pretty sure that you are both bright and sincere people of good will.
4) That all being said, Travis McGee - Matt Bracken - has repeatedly (including in this thread) taken a great deal of time and effort to warn people about the possible consequences of various potential governmental actions. While I cannot speak for him, I am reasonably certain that having people on one of his threads that deals with potential problems in the FUTURE commenting interminably about the “unpleasantness” in this nation between 1861 and 1865 was not at the top of his list for making this post.
5) Speaking for ME - only - I am very tired of the interminable arguments over whether the Civil War (as it is popularly called) should be considered a civil war, or a revolt of some kind...or whether it should be called the “War of Northern Aggression” instead of the “Civil War.” I frankly don’t care WHY it started, WHAT it was over, or HOW you title that conflict - for all I care, call it the war of Hillary’s Sharted Tablecloth Masquerading as a Pantsuit.” Really, guys, WHO CARES? The war has been over for 151 years and about 4 months. Precious few alive now could have heard a first-hand account of any action during that period. It is done. It is over. Times have changed and that is not the issue that Matt Bracken put before us. How about stick to the topic - possible FUTURE government action, and what to do or not do about it? HMMM, how about it, guys?
Thanks.