The Southern States left the United States. The Constitution of the United States no longer applied to them. Article II section 2 of the Constitution of the United States gives him the legal authority to conduct the war. If you would take the time to read the Constitution, you would know the answers to these questions. It was not his “body guard”, it was his office secretary that related the information about an arrest warrant for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. You know him, he was the one that issued the Dred Scott Decision. Had the Confederacy not started a War with the United States he would not have done what he had to do.
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So they were an independent Country? That is their position. Lincoln's position was that they never were an independent country.
Which position is it that you are trying to support on this point?
It was not his “body guard”, it was his office secretary that related the information about an arrest warrant for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. You know him, he was the one that issued the Dred Scott Decision. Had the Confederacy not started a War with the United States he would not have done what he had to do.
So the Constitution gives Lincoln the power to arrest the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Come again?
Could he arrest all the rest of the members of the Court? Could he arrest the Congress?
And for what it's worth:
After due consideration the administration determined upon the arrest of the Chief Justice. A warrant or order was issued for his arrest. Then arose the question of service. Who should make the arrest and where should the imprisonment be? This was done by the President with instructions to use his own discretion about making the arrest unless he should receive further orders from him.