Lincoln Said it First
Quoted from Lincoln’s notes. See page 2 of his collected speeches in Kansas and Ohio.
“We must not disturb slavery in the states where it exists, because the Constitution, and the peace of the country both forbid us — We must not withhold an efficient fugitive slave law, because the constitution demands it —
But we must, by a national policy, prevent the spread of slavery into new territories, or free states, because the constitution does not forbid us, and the general welfare does demand such prevention — We must prevent the revival of the African slave trade, because the constitution does not forbid us, and the general welfare does require the prevention — We must prevent these things being done, by either congresses or courts — The people — the people — are the rightful masters of both Congresses, and courts — not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it —”
There. I feel better now.
~_~_
Rob
I also admire Lincoln greatly. But I think if the constitution was meant to be written in stone, it would have been written in stone. Lincoln as president exercised executive authority to effectively change the constitution. I mean after all, that’s what amendments do best right? They amend.