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lacrew: "But no matter how immoral, the correct remedy under the constitution for a state that leaves the Union in.....nothing.
Nothing at all.
Not miltary force.
So the Republicans of the era got it wrong.
Their high minded ends did not justify the means, from a constitutional perspective."

But the truth of this matter is that the Federal Government under both outgoing Democrat President Buchanan and incoming President Lincoln did do... precisely... exactly... nothing to stop Southern Fire Eaters from declaring their secession (beginning December 1860) and forming a new Confederacy (February 4, 1861).
The Union continued to do... precisely... nothing to stop Confederates from dozens of provocations of war in seizing major Federal properties -- forts, ships, arsenals, mints.

The Union only responded with military force after the Confederacy first launched war against Union forces in Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861) and then formally declared war on the United States, May 6, 1861.

The first Confederate soldier killed in battle came at Big Bethel, June 10, 1861.

But the truth of this matter is that the Federal Government under both outgoing Democrat President Buchanan and incoming President Lincoln did do... precisely... exactly... nothing to stop Southern Fire Eaters from declaring their secession (beginning December 1860) and forming a new Confederacy (February 4, 1861). The Union continued to do... precisely... nothing to stop Confederates from dozens of provocations of war in seizing major Federal properties -- forts, ships, arsenals, mints. The Union only responded with military force after the Confederacy first launched war against Union forces in Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861) and then formally declared war on the United States, May 6, 1861. The first Confederate soldier killed in battle came at Big Bethel, June 10, 1861.

Well put. Funny how the Lost Causers always say Lincoln was a tyrant when all he did was respond to aggression. I guess that makes us tyrants against the Japanese in WW2. lol