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Quote By Abraham Lincoln
By what principle of original right is it that one-fiftieth or one-ninetieth of a great nation, by calling themselves a State, have the right to break up and ruin that nation as a matter of original principle?
16th President of the United States and Emancipator of Slaves.
Born: February 12, 1809
Died: April 15, 1865
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President, led the nation through the Civil War and abolished slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation. Assassinated in 1865, his legacy endures in American history and civil rights.
Explanation Of The Quote
Abraham Lincoln questions the legitimacy of states seceding from the Union based on claims of original sovereignty. He challenges the constitutional and moral basis for secession, asserting the primacy of national unity over state autonomy in preserving the integrity of the nation. Lincoln's quote reflects his commitment to the Union and constitutional governance, opposing secession as a threat to democratic principles and national unity. It underscores his defense of federal authority and the rule of law in maintaining a cohesive and stable nation.
More Quotes By Abraham Lincoln
You may think it was a very little thing, and in these days it seems to me like a trifle, but it was a most important incident in my life. I could scarcely credit that I, the poor boy, had earned a dollar in less than a day; that by honest work, I had earned a dollar. I was a more hopeful and thoughtful boy from that time.