Constitutional Firewall. What an interesting phrase. I rolled it around on my tongue a few times and I liked it. Wish I’d coined it, but that credit goes to Allen Guetzo.<\/p>\n
Did not know about Guetzo except he delivers internet\u00a0lectures in an arresting fashion. Searched for more about him and found a few tidbits<\/a>\u00a0and a presidential appointment<\/a>. Which is excellent, because I took what he said as solid historical documentation. His GL lecture explained\u00a0a good deal of the political\u00a0intrigue behind\u00a0Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.<\/p>\n Washington, D.C. was a tough town for Lincoln. He did not have as much support from his fellow republicans as I presumed\u00a0and surprisingly, one of his military generals, was bent on telling him how to run the country. On top of two prominant snakes waiting\u00a0in White House front lawn grass, Lincoln’s hands were bound by the constraints of the U.S. Constitution. Firewall indeed.\u00a0Lincoln had to color within the lines while\u00a0maintaining the founding fathers’\u00a0war powers. But, he did not necessarily have to live by them.<\/p>\n According to Guetzo, Lincoln devised a modern day “buyout” plan. A golden parachute he wanted to offer to border states willing to accept $700 thousands dollars. It was insurance money for Delware, Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri\u00a0to stay on the side of Union and even\u00a0better,\u00a0entice the rebel states back home. It was not a cheap plan. Lincoln\u00a0needed something though to outmaneuver Roger B. Taney. The US Chief Justice and brother-in-law <\/a>of Francis Scott Key,\u00a0was determined to stop Lincoln from declaring maritial law, civil war, his love for his country,\u00a0heck, he did not want Lincoln doing\u00a0anything that helped the\u00a0cause against the South. Taney was not\u00a0Lincoln’s biggest problem\u00a0child at the beginning of the war. That honor went\u00a0to Major General George Brinton (love the middle name)\u00a0McClellan.<\/p>\n