The pretext was that he was doing it to save the union.
The question few people ask is, did the union exist for the benefit of the people, or the other way around?
I would suggest that saving the union destroyed our republic and no doubt removed the basic concept of self government that our founders were so careful to protect.
The blatantly unconstitutional actions of Lincoln, such as suspending the writ of habeas corpus is inexcusable.
Our nation is too vast and diverse to meaningfully be represented by a powerful central government and lawless president.
States have got to get their power back, if it is not too late. I have little doubt we would be better off today if Lincoln has not interfered with the right of the people in the south to self government.
The comparisons between Lincoln and Obama are fair, and not just because of Illinois.
If Obama tries to do any of the following:
suspend the writ of habeous corpus;
close down media outlets critical of him;
deprive us of civilian trials with full Due Process, etc. then the next civil war will break out.
We don't exist to serve the government. We created the government to protect our God given rights.
Well said. And I would also add that the confiscation of weapons will touch off a Civil War.