Good. You don't negoiate with extortionists under any circumstances. And where exactly would the President of the United States gain constitutional permission to give away Federal property at any price. Since you're such a stickler on the Constitution, why don't you show us that clause that allows the President to give away land and property without congressional apporval. When did the confederates ever petition congress, or the courts, to gain permission to take that property? Unilateral secession, to paraphrase Madison, is nothing but revolution.
It was no damn accident that Jeff Davis waited till Congress was out of session before he initiated hostilities. He considered Lincoln to be some naive country rube who would freeze up in a crisis like Buchanan did. Lincoln didn't freeze. He instead preserved the last great hope mankind --- The United States of America.
Napoleon III offered to mediate the dispute...
ROTFLMAO. I'm sure Charic offered to "mediate" between Bush and Saddam too. Should we have taken that deal? The French are always the French. Are they your buddies?
Article 2, Section. 2. Clause 2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur
Never suggested it was a unilateral power, but the Constitution does charge the executive with negotiating treaties.