[central_va]

While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.

As President he shirked his duty to represent the USA in peace negotiations. IMO An admission of war crimes...

[Sherman Logan]

Had Lincoln agreed to negotiate the terms of the dissolution of the Union, he would have violated the terms of the oath he had just taken “to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Nothing in there about the President being authorized to negotiate the breakup of the Union established by the Constitution.

There were several possible constitutional possibilities that would allow for secession, including an amendment and a lawsuit in the Supreme Court. The seceding states chose to take none of them. They rested their claim, of their own free will, on “an appeal to arms.”

When you appeal to arms, you really should take into consideration the possibility your appeal will be rejected.

[donmeaker]

Az citizens, the insurgents committed treason in pretending to represent an insurrection against the federal government. They had no duty to destroy the union, and the president had sworn an oath to preserve, protect and defend.