Lincoln Poll in USA TODAY

[Gene C]

(01-09-2013 05:42 AM)My Name Is Kate Wrote:  The only action of Lincoln's that I had ever heard of (until yesterday) that even came close to being extra-Constitutional, was his suspension of habeas corpus. But I only took one political course in college, and it wasn't about Lincoln (can't even remember what it was about). In high school, and even in college, I don't remember much of anything at all that I was taught on any subject (almost might as well not have attended).

Had I not been doing considerable research online in the past few weeks, about recent and current political and social, etc., events, I probably would not have been able to see the significance of the extra-Constitutional actions of Lincoln's, and the precedent he set in taking those actions, or any connection between his actions and the political and social mess that the country is in today. I would have passed it all off as being necessary and justified in the noble fight to end slavery and preserve the Union. Lincoln is the very last president/person I would have suspected of doing any harm to the country, whether intentional or not.

Sounds like we went to the same high school

In my opinion you are right. Lincoln took the steps necessary to save the union, and that was his motive for exceeding his legal powers. Just like you have to have an incision to perform surgery, sometimes it hurts to fix what is wrong. As a country we have a few things wrong, and it is going to hurt to fix them.