“’That has nothing to do with the point at hand.’
‘Well, yes it does. Napolitano takes Lincoln to task for opposing the Southern acts of secession, and compares them to the colonists. He claims that ‘the right of secession followed from the American Revolution as the colonists separated from the British Empire and declared their independence...’ and forgets to mention that the colonists had to fight for that independence.” ‘”
When I said “That has nothing to do with the point at hand” I was referring specifically to your point about the British not supporting the Confederacy. That was really out of left field.
Anyway, if you ask me whether the federal government had the right to use force, I’d say yes. So did the British. You see, I honestly believe that everyone has the right to revolt and every government has the right to defend itself. Those concepts can stand side by side, so long as we admit that, as beings of limited knowledge, we never know for sure who’s “in the right”.
Anyway, whether the colonists had a right to revolt has nothing to do with the British reaction. If you believe the revolutionary cause was just, then you believe the colonies were sovereign. Not sure why you bring up the Brits’ opinion on the matter, except to say, “Hey, if King George could do it, so can Lincoln.” Just because the federal government could countermand the South’s claims with force does not make them wrong.
The states had the right to secede whether or not the federal government opposed them. That much is clear. Whether they should have asserted their rights and whether or not the feds should have fought back is another matter. Just as you cannot say the colonists had no right to secede because the British met them with force, you cannot say the South had no right because the war happened. It doesn’t follow. The North could have opted not to fight. Same with the British. If Tom Paine had his way, they would have let the colonies go.
I'm not sure what field your playing, or else I totally misunderstood one of your posts, or else you completely misunderstood one of mine because I never deliberately made any mention or any point about Britain supporting the confederacy.
The states had the right to secede whether or not the federal government opposed them. That much is clear.
Sorry, but I disagree. Madison said that a proper secession requires the consent of the other states and I see no reason to fault his assessment.