In my upcoming book, "Conveyance," some of the darker nooks and crannies of Abraham Lincoln's presidency are recounted. Most Americans would find them difficult, if not impossible to believe!
Conveyance is a Reconstruction offering largely covering a time period between May 10th, 1865 and Halloween, 1866. The war had barely concluded. The painful memories were still fresh on the countries mind. The setting is Louisiana, where Abraham Lincoln had established his now infamous "10% plan."
Lincoln never wavered from his resolve that there were sufficient loyalists in all departing Southern states to justify representation. He sought to bring them back to the table; resuming their place in the American family.
Lincoln believed that if a mere 10% of the populations of those seceding states might swear a loyalty oath to the United States of America, they should seat their state's representatives in the House and Senate, without prejudice. His was a plan that was not embraced by the more extreme members of his party.
Contemporary application of Lincoln's plan could actually be rationalized!
A case can be made that America is currently experiencing a "cold civil war." We are unquestionably more divided than at any time since 1861! The question becomes, "where is the tipping point?" In 1861, it was Fort Sumter.
Unlike 1861, the divide is not sectional. It is ideological. Also missing is that overriding moral issue of slavery. The sides are decisively drawn: "Faith based National Populism" versus "Secular Global Socialism."
In 2016 Donald Trump connected with a segment of the American population, National Review described as the "disaffecteds." Hillary Clinton was less complimentary in her labeling them as "a basket of deplorables." Unfortunately for her, they voted.
These "deplorables" represent 20% of the nation's population. According to NR, "23% are non-white, 90% have no party affiliation and their average household income hovers around $30,000 per year.
Joe Biden's embrace of open borders, T.P.P.,NAFTA and his globalist agenda directly threatens their previously meager yet rapidly improving livelihoods. Trump is credited with their recent gains.
Immigration clearly falls under Federal jurisdiction, per the 10th amendment. For a state to declare itself as "sanctuary" in defiance to federal immigration laws, puts them technically in "defacto secession." Currently California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey,New Mexico, Oregon,and Vermont are in defacto secession.
The President could invoke Lincoln's 10% plan in those eight states declaring themselves "sanctuaries." He would invite those loyal to the United States of America to establish a loyalist government within their state. If 10% came forth, they would proceed with business as usual, casting the 2020 Presidential electors and seating their states Congressmen and Senators.
No doubt such an overture would cause a stir in those states, as well as the nation. But it would be months before opposition would become adequately situated to stop the momentum. Any lower court injunction efforts would likely be ignored.
Donald Trump would enter his first 100 days in 2021 with a Senate super majority and control in the House. This would allow him to pass strict voter I.D. laws, the key to saving our Democracy. When the populace loses faith in the integrity in our electoral system, it's over. Sadly, we are there!
Trump would also implement a merit based immigration system, similar to Canada's. He would define birthright citizenship and set boundaries for chain migration. With the help of his Senate super majority, he would pass legislation making English the nation's official language.
Immigration applicants would be required to pass a fourth grade English proficiency examination as a prerequisite for green card. This is the current standard in Australia and New Zealand. This measure effectively accelerates assimilation, as those nations have proven.
During his presidency, Abraham Lincoln closed over three hundred newspapers, subsequently interning dozens of Editors and Correspondents. In many cases, Habius Corpus was suspended. Then, as would be now, there were howls and protests nationally.
Lincoln justified his action in phrasing, "We will shoot a simple soldier boy for desertion. Yet must we allow an agitator to incite riots and unrest?"
These measures were considered "draconian" then, as they would be now. Yet Lincoln knew that anything less would have ended in the break-up of the nation.
Critics acclaimed that Lincoln severely "trampled upon" the constitution. Defenders counter in asserting that he did so to save the constitution, and with it, the nation.
It's highly probable that Donald J. Trump has been studying and assessing Lincoln, as of late.
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