And when did the insurrection start? Long before Lincoln did anything to the legislature of Maryland.
Maryland had not joined it, but the insurrection was started, and the president used some of his broad powers in the face of the insurrection to fight it, even in states which were not in insurrection.
Just as the US Army was able to fight the forces of the insurrection in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
But Maryland was not having a rebellion or an insurrection. Supposedly they still possessed the same rights as any other Union State, yet Lincoln sent troops to arrest the state legislature and prevent them from conducting state business because he was afraid of the possibility they MIGHT vote for secession.
At that point, the Union was no longer a Democracy. It was an authoritarian system with Democratic trappings.
Maryland had not joined it, but the insurrection was started, and the president used some of his broad powers in the face of the insurrection to fight it, even in states which were not in insurrection.
"Broad powers" meaning any thing he wanted whether it was legal or not. Whether it was constitutional or not.
Just as the US Army was able to fight the forces of the insurrection in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
"Because Democracy is okay only so long as I get what I want." Right? Given his actions, if all 22 Union states had been against intervention, Lincoln would have simply decided what was better for them.
At what point does the Will of the President trump the will of the people?