...among the States to compose a new Union, as to produce harmony only, and prevent renewed secession? Plainly, the central idea of secession is the essence...the only true sovereign, of a free people. Whoever reject! it, does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism. Unanimity is impossible; the rule of...

...among the States to compose a new Union, as to produce harmony only, and prevent renewed secession? Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence...a minority, as a permanent arrangement, is wholly inadmissable; so that, rejecting the majority principle, anarchy, or despotism in some form, is all...

...protection against political despotism.' Abraham Lincoln, another contemporary, was equally clear: 'A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks...Whoever rejects it does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or despotism.' Ibsen, on the other hand, expressed a preference for the despotism of Tsarist Russia, on...

...couldn't towns secede from their counties — and individuals from their towns? "Plainly," said Lincoln, "the central idea of secession, is the essence of...a minority, as a permanent arrangement, is wholly inadmissable; so that, rejecting the majority principle, anarchy, or despotism in some form, is all...

...minority rights. It is here that one can see the importance and significance of the Lincoln concept: A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks...limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate change of popular opinion and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whosoever rejects...

...itself expressly enjoins upon me] that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the States. A majority [held in restraint by constitutional checks,...sentiments] is the only true sovereign of a free people. 28 Seward exercised his greatest influence upon Lincoln's famous conclusion. Following are Seward's...

...Abraham Lincoln observed, "a majority. held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations ... is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does, out of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism." Weimar, born of military defeat, had the additional...

...minority president, asserted that a majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does of necessity fly into anarchy or despotism. There it is. All power inheres in the people, but the people may not exercise...

...pondered the problems of federalism regard as the most satisfactory formulation of the American solution: "A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks...changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinion and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people." Four years later, with the war...

...reprinted in Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, v. 4, p. 207. Rutgers University Press (1953, 1990). A majority, held in restraint by constitutional checks...sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. "First Inaugural Address," March 4, 1861 , reprinted in Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, v. 4, p....