We can take care of isolated cases of rebellion.

But if any important part of the country rises up and departs, it is exceedingly difficult to know what to do.

Prevention is excellent; but cure is next to impossible.

So long as there is a general acquiescence in the exercise of executive power against insurrectionists, one or more, we have a general government; but when States depart, we are a house divided against itself.

We find that we have been living, as it were, not so much under paternal authority, as under fraternal rule.