Wrong. The government continued to exist even after secession. The union of states continued, just with fewer members. The states already had slavery, it was protected, there wouldn't be enough votes to sustain an amendment ending it, Lincoln supported making it permanent, and did not wage war to end it It was not Lincoln that made the Union perpetual, but it was the Articles of Confederation which predated the Constitution. I can't fault Lincoln for upholding that which was inherent in the birth of the nation.
SORRY, but the AOC expired with the adoption of the Constitution. even if the AOC did make the union "permanent", such a prohibition expired with the Articles.
PITY that you don't know that.
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