Yeah, I read the quote. I've read the whole speech, in fact. He's talking about the natural Right of Rebellion, not about secession from the Union. Read a little more of the context of the quote you cherry pick. He's talking about Texas and the War with Mexico: "The extent of our teritory in that region depended, not on any treaty-fixed boundary (for no treaty had attempted it) but on revolution Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable,-- most sacred right--a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world. Nor is this right confined to cases in which the whole people of an existing government, may choose to exercise it. Any portion of such people that can, may revolutionize, and make their own, of so much of the teritory as they inhabit. More than this, a majority of any portion of such people may revolutionize, putting down a minority, intermingled with, or near about them, who may oppose their movement. Such minority, was precisely the case, of the tories of our own revolution. It is a quality of revolutions not to go by old lines, or old laws; but to break up both, and make new ones. s to the country now in question, we bought it of France in 18O3, and sold it to Spain in 1819, according to the President's statements. After this, all Mexico, including Texas, revolutionized against Spain; and still later, Texas revolutionized against Mexico. In my view, just so far as she carried her revolution, by obtaining the actual, willing or unwilling, submission of the people, so far, the country was hers, and no farther."
Clearly what Lincoln is saying isn't that states can unilaterally renounce the Union, but that any people, anywhere, can revolt against an existing government and claim as much territory as they can hold. In this case Texas had revolted against Mexico and succeeded, through force, in holding territory. The question was whether this territory extended to the Rio Grande or only to the Nueces.
If he was for rebellion, which he called the South rebels, then why go to war?
"Clearly what Lincoln is saying isn't that states can unilaterally renounce the Union, but that any people, anywhere, can revolt against an existing government and claim as much territory as they can hold. In this case Texas had revolted against Mexico and succeeded, through force, in holding territory. The question was whether this territory extended to the Rio Grande or only to the Nueces."
It that not talking out both sides of your mouth. It's ok for Texas to leave Mexico but the Southern states can't leave the US.
Um, no. Lincoln is emphatic:
"This is a most valuable,-- most sacred right--a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world. Nor is this right confined to cases in which the whole people of an existing government, may choose to exercise it. Any portion of such people that can, may revolutionize, and make their own, of so much of the teritory as they inhabit. More than this, a majority of any portion of such people may revolutionize, putting down a minority, intermingled with, or near about them, who may oppose their movement.Lincoln is not speaking of armed revolution - which is not a right at all, but simply the exercise of raw military power. He's not referring to revolution in the modern sense - the fight to overthrow an existing government and seize control - he's referring to what the Colonies exercised - the RIGHT of SELF-GOVERNMENT. And he states that the idea should spread, "which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world." He's not calling for wars to occur on a massive scale, he's hoping that repressed people everywhere will do exactly what the colonies did - secede from their existing government, and form one that is ideally suited to their needs and desires.
Speaking of reading the speech, I especially like his comment about the "half insane mumbling of a fever-dream".
Clearly what Lincoln is saying isn't that states can unilaterally renounce the Union...
Lincoln said, "Any portion of such people that can, may revolutionize, and make their own, of so much of the teritory as they inhabit." Nowhere does he state that they must beg permission, instead they have the right to "shake off the existing government".