[lentulusgracchus]

They do not find a law above the Constitution, they place themselves above the law.

It's true that the People are themselves above constitutions and laws, but it wasn't in that capacity that Lincoln and the Union States claimed to act, but under color of the authority of the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. It was in the name of that clause that Lincoln declared insurrection (unconstitutionally) and summoned the State Militias (unconstitutionally). But if you're lying your ass off, you'd better lay a string of whoppers as fast as you can to keep the parade moving. Kinda like the Clintons.

[nolu chan]

In his special message to Congress of July 4, 1861, Lincoln appears to have asserted only one part of one clause of the Constitution, "The Constitution provides, and all the States have accepted the provision, that 'The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government.' But, if a State may lawfully go out of the Union, having done so, it may also discard the republican form of government; so that to prevent its going out, is an indispensable means, to the end, of maintaining the guaranty mentioned; and when an end is lawful and obligatory, the indispensable means to it, are also lawful, and obligatory."

U.S. Const., Art 4, Sec 4: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

Lincoln carefully stopped quoting from that section before he reached the part that required, as a condition precedent for applicability or action, an "Invasion" or an "Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

There was clearly no "Invasion" of the North.

There was clearly no "Application" by the Legislature or Executive of any State.

The Army of the Potomac was not headed South to assist the marshals of the courts in putting down "domestic Violence."