With his singular felicity of statement, he analyzed and refuted the sophism that secession was lawful and constitutional.

“This sophism derives much, perhaps the whole, of its currency from the assumption that there is some omnipotent and sacred supremacy pertaining to a State—­to each State of our Federal Union.  Our States have neither more nor less power than that reserved to them in the Union by the Constitution—­no one of them ever having been a State out of the Union....  The States have their status in the Union, and they have no other legal status.  If they break from this, they can only do so against law and by revolution.  The Union, and not themselves separately, procured their independence and their liberty.  By conquest or purchase the Union gave each of them whatever of independence or liberty it has.  The Union is older than any of the States, and, in fact, it created them as States.  Originally some dependent colonies made the Union, and, in turn, the Union threw off their old dependence for them, and made them States, such as they are.  Not one of them ever had a State constitution independent of the Union.”

A noteworthy point in the message is President Lincoln’s expression of his abiding confidence in the intelligence and virtue of the people of the United States.

“It may be affirmed,” said he, “without extravagance that the free institutions we enjoy have developed the powers and improved the condition of our whole people beyond any example in the world.  Of this we now have a striking and an impressive illustration.  So large an army as the government has now on foot was never before known, without a soldier in it but who has taken his place there of his own free choice.  But more than this, there are many single regiments whose members, one and another, possess full practical knowledge of all the arts, sciences, professions and whatever else, whether useful or elegant, is known in the world; and there is scarcely one from which there could not be selected a President, a cabinet a congress, and, perhaps, a court, abundantly competent to administer the government itself....  This is essentially a people’s contest.  On the side of the Union it is a struggle for maintaining in the world that form and substance of government whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men; to lift artificial weights from all shoulders; to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all; to afford all an unfettered start, and a fair chance in the race of life....  I am most happy to believe that the plain people understand and appreciate this.  It is worthy of note that while in this, the government’s hour of trial, large numbers of those in the army and navy who have been favored with the offices have resigned and proved false to the hand which had pampered them, not one common soldier or common sailor is known to have deserted his flag.”