DiogenesLamp: "Only because Lincoln laid the foundation for doing so.
The Federal Government was never so all powerful prior to 1861."
Total fantasy & rubbish.
In fact, Lincoln did nothing but win the Civil War, using constitutional tools available.
After the war, by 1870 Federal government spending (except for debt payments) had returned to the same level as 1858 under Doughfaced Democrat President Buchanan = 2.5% of GDP.
That 2.5% of GDP, for non-debt reduction spending, remained the average until well after World War One, when FDR's New Deal increased it to 15%.
After WWII spending rose to 20% and in recent years often exceeds 25% of GDP.
Nothing Lincoln did or said could explain or justify events beginning 70 years after his death.
Woodrow Wilson oversaw the creation and implementation of the Federal Reserve. If you don’t think that drastically increased the power of the federal government then you are crazy.
FDR oversaw Social Security and the so-called “New Deal. If you do not think those things drastically increased the power of the federal government then you are equally crazy.
I very seldom post fantasy and rubbish here unless I am joking.