As do I. Lincoln knew he couldn't win a legal fight in his contemporary political arena for a couple of reasons:
1) Being a lawyer, he KNEW what powers were and were NOT given to the federal government by the Constitution
2)The country was almost equally divided with no clear majority either way. This made a legal victory questionable.
He violated his oath of office when he forced the states to his will instead of using the outlined Constituional process.
Helllooooo MamaTexan! Where you been girl??? I totally agree with what you say..........Lincoln, like FDR have been way overblown as "good Presidents", imho.