...the "universal law," which justifies Lincoln's faith that "the Union of these States is perpetual": "I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the Union of theses States is perpetual" (582). Even within fifteen years, less than a generation, language such...

...very opposite of the "perpetual union" contemplated by Madison and affirmed by Lincoln, who declared that "[n]o government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination."29 26. Ustava Ceskoslovenske republiky [Constitution] l50/l948 Sb., translated in Constitutions...

...windows along the route of travel, and with sharpshooters strategically posted on buildings about town. "It is safe to assert that no government proper, ever...provision in its organic law for its own termination," said Lincoln when he arose to deliver his First Inaugural Address. After a review of the problems faced...

...ingredient of perfection, his argument from the preamble is plausible enough. Accordingly, Lincoln held "that in contemplation of universal law, and of the...Constitution, the Union of these states is perpetual." Having reached that conclusion, he suddenly changed his argument and thereby almost conceded that the...

...southern states had no good reason to secede, and then proceeded to show that they had no right to secede, that "in contemplation of universal law, and of the...Constitution, the Union of these States is perpetual." Whatever might be said of the natural right of the people of a state to do what the American people...

...constitutional right to secede from the Union, or, as Lincoln put it, it is safe to assert that no government "ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination." He could not have believed that his argument, good as it was, would carry any weight with the likes...

...material one . . . A disruption of the Federal Union heretofore only menaced, is now formidably attempted. I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, die Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental...

...inaugural address, partly in response to an earlier speech by Davis. He began with the proposition that "[p]erpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments." Even if the "United States be not a government proper, but an association of States in the nature of...

...slavery, and addressed the issue that the Union of the states was "perpetual." This concept, he said, "is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments." Overriding the slavery question, Lincoln believed that no state could "lawfully get out of the union...

...view differs markedly from the one he took years later. ln his first inaugural speech, Lincoln said: l hold that, in contemplation of universal law and of...in the fundamental law of all national governments. lt is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own...