I just had to post this because I didn't heed the warning of my favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut: "Be careful about quoting Lincoln, he always steals the show." It's too true. Anyway, here's the quote. It's a little frightening, I think, considering our current situation in Iraq.
Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose, and you allow him to make war at pleasure. Study to see if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect, after having given him so much as you propose. If to-day he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, — "I see no probability of the British invading us"; but he will say to you, "Be silent: I see it, if you don't."
To provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This our convention understood to be the most oppressive of all kingly oppressions, and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. But your view destroys the whole matter, and places our President where kings have always stood.
- Letter, while US Congressman, to his friend and law-partner William H. Herndon, opposing the Mexican-American War (15 February 1848)
3 Comments:
Isn't he clever?! There's a reason that the Nephites replaced Kings with a whole slew of Judges. Abraham Lincoln, in my view, is one of the most quotable people. (And not the kind that we quote just to entertain ourselves.....like Wendy who is SOOO Congratulatory!)
Wow, that's quite the quote! I like the little bit about invading Canada - geesh! Leave us out of your political schemes! ha ha :) Seriously though, this "war" has been crazy and we watch your political campaigns regularly waiting for the day the Bush is out of power!
That is a sobering quote-I like it! You sure don't see that one often-maybe the government is trying to keep it a secret...it's a conspiracy!
Bri-do you have to take every opportunity to make fun of my past? Congratulatory is a word!-I just used in incorrectly...I was just a kid and didn't know better!!! ;o)
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