[MamaTexan]

And by his own words he apparently made his decision without any misconceptions that the actions were anything but illegal.

Lee never stated his actions were illegal, but it was a nice try to infer that he did.

Care to source Madison's quote you posted earlier in the thead?

[Non-Sequitur]

Lee never stated his actions were illegal, but it was a nice try to infer that he did.

No inference necessary. Read the quote in Reply 6 and it is clear that is exactly what Lee is trying to do, in all his full-blown, post-rebellion revisionist glory.

Care to source Madison's quote you posted earlier in the thead?

Sure. An 1832 letter in response to Alexander Rives.

Link