>>BroJoeK wrote: “In this particular case, the English language provides us with two words for the same thing, but with an important distinction: Rebellion — “An act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler.” Revolution — “A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system.” Notice that both words are talking about the same thing, forceful resistance & overthrow of established government.”
Thanks for posting, Joey. According to those definitions, Abraham Lincoln was in rebellion against the United States of America, and performing an act of revolution against the same.
Mr. Kalamata
Presidents were delegated this authority by congress in the militia act of 1792(revised 1795). It states-
"Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That whenever the laws of the United States shall be opposed or the execution thereof obstructed, in any state, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by this act, the same being notified to the President of the United States, by an associate justice or the district judge, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to call forth the militia of such state to suppress such combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. And if the militia of a state, where such combinations may happen, shall refuse, or be insufficient to suppress the same, it shall be lawful for the President, if the legislature of the United States be not in session, to call forth and employ such numbers of the militia of any other state or states most convenient thereto, as may be necessary, and the use of militia, so to be called forth, may be continued, if necessary, until the expiration of thirty days after the commencement of the ensuing session."
You can see from the part in bold that congress even foresaw the possibility that a rebellion might be so large(say an entire state?) That the entire state militia might not respond and in that case they gave the President the power to call militia from other states to help suppress it. In suppressing the rebellion President Lincoln was simply following the constitution and the law.