Does this sound like a man who is displaying the courage of his convictions , or is this a real first rate, second rate man? Depends, at the time there was no legal basis for Fremont to liberate the slaves in Missouri. Missouri was not in rebellion and slavery was legal according to the laws of the state. It took passage of the 13th Amendment for slavery to be ended in states not in rebellion. So your quote sounds more like a man respecting the law.
A man respecting the letter of the law? The same man who takes it upon himself to declare war ? An act that should only have been done by the Congress of the United States of America?
man respecting the letter of the law? The same man who takes it upon himself to declare war ? An act that should only have been done by the Congress of the United States of America? Lincoln didn't declare war. You declare war on another country and the confederacy was a group of states in rebellion, nothing more and nothing less. Congress gave the president the power to mobilize the militia to put down invasion or rebellion when Congress was not in session. Lincoln's actions were perfectly legal.