[WhiskeyPapa]

Contrary to Lincoln's assertion, no one was asking the the federal government to give up its "territorial integrity."

This comment is straight from "1984".

Walt

[DentsRun]

DentsRun: Contrary to Lincoln's assertion, no one was asking the the federal government to give up its "territorial integrity."

WhiskeyPapa:This comment is straight from "1984".

Oh, I don't know, Walt. It seems to me that, for a southern state, joining the union was like getting married. You had the right to hitch up and if it didn't work out you also had the right to get divorced. What Lincoln is saying is, "It will make me weaker if you leave therefore you have to stay married to me forever." What's fair about that? The south wasn't making any claims on northern territory. But Lincoln was saying, "Your southern territory is ours forever, because if we let you take your land back that wrecks our 'territorial integrity.'"