View single post by ole
 Posted: Fri Nov 27th, 2009 03:45 pm
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ole
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Mana: 
 Without the firing on Ft. Sumter, he couldn't assume the power he did. In the absence of a sitting Congress, he could do little more than twiddle his thumbs while waiting for the next session to sit ... December, I believe was the scheduled session.

But the Constitution provides for extraordinary power under extraordinary circumstances. For example, an armed rebellion. Had Congress been seated when Sumter was fired on, he would have had to filter his moves through Congress.

This simple fact gives rise to the idea that he didn't retain the Congress because he meant to wage war. I think that's poppycock, but others don't. (It keeps the board lively.)

Ole