Dear Editor,

Did President Lincoln obey his Oath of Office: to support and defend the Constitution? The answer to this question can be answered by asking one simple question: do the States have a right to secede from the Union?

If the answer to this question is yes, them no, President lincoln did not obey his Oath. If the answer to this question is no, then we, the People, must ask why the Declaration of independence declares all States to be free and independent. If the States are not allowed to secede, then now can they possibly be free and independent?

In 1825, William Rawle, a Philadelphia lawyer and personal friend of President Washington, published a book titled, “A View of the Constitution.” The book became the text book for cadets at West Point and virtually all the top leaders of the day studied the book. It taught that secession was a right of all the States. As Rawle stated, “The States then, may wholly withdraw from the Union, but while they continue they must retain the character of representative republics.”

We Americans should celebrate President Washington's birthday and abolish President's Day, most of whom are not worthy to shine President Washington's boots. Washington, the father of our nation, was elected unanimously and was not a member of any subversive party. In 1818, Rawle was elected president of the Maryland Society which promoted the abolition of slavery. Today, all States suffer lost of liberty under federal regulations.

Gene Owens

Fortuna