At the time there was considerable debate as to the legality of  
secession. It was resolved, rather messily by the war. But  
constitutionally, it is my understanding, that the right of secession  
is still debatable. So it was not "illegal". And for the record before  
Anne jumps all over me, as far as I know all of my relatives,  
including the Lees, were Yankees.

On Oct 12, 2008, at 9:59 AM, Anne Pemberton wrote:

> J. South,
>
> Actually, the president only acted AFTER the south illegally  
> seceded, and then attacked the federal garrison at Fort Sumpter.  
> Even had the secession been legal, which it wasn't, taking over the  
> Fort at Sumpter was not at all legal.
>
> So don't blame the man who happened to be siting in the White House  
> when the south lost its marbles.
>
> Anne
>
> Anne Pemberton
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.erols.com/apembert
> http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
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