[Non-Sequitur]

I was just curios to see how you were parsing. I wondered whether it would be that Lincoln did not actually arrest them himself or that it was not the entire Assembly.

Well I'm sorry that accuracy offends you, especially when it collides with your agenda. The simple truth of the matter is that Paige was wrong when she said the legislature was arrested. Only a minority was, and they were released. And of course Lincoln did not arrest them himself, or would you have us believe that he personally kicked down the door and slapped the cuffs on them? If so, then that would be silly.

Then again Davis always wished he had the same powers that Lincoln did - to act unilaterally -- so that he could direct the ship of state.

Why didn't he? Lincoln had his actions reviewed by the Supreme Court throughout the course of the rebellion. Jefferson Davis didn't have that problem since there was no confederate supreme court, even though the confederate constitution required one. Nothing stopped Davis from acting without authority, declaring martial law, seizing private property without compensation, enacting taxes and tariffs, and what have you. Why there are some who would have us believe that Davis was prepared to end slavery in exchange for European recognition, in spite of how ridiculous that idea may seem and regardless of the fact that under the confederate constitution he had not the power to do so. But Davis had no interest in what was legal and what was not.

[smug]

Well I'm sorry that accuracy offends you, especially when it collides with your agenda.

I have never been offended in my life. I am too crude for that. Nor do I believe most people when they claim they are offended. My "agenda" is accuracy. But, I do not make it a habit of pointing out overly universal declaratives. Especially when they are somewhat correct. However, in your case I liken myself to the old fish pointing out your hook. Sorry if this disturbs you. As for Davis, I thought I was fairly clear. I do not know differently other than that which he wrote. Like with lincoln, I may suspect some things. However, without written evidence I cannot in clear conscious declare them.