Abe Lincoln was a bad President

Alright, point by point rebuttals. Id like to note that pro seems to have confused "good" with "best", and that this argument he has posted is a verbatim replica of an earlier debate. Nevertheless, here I go: 1. "I think Lincoln was not the best president the Country had because he took the rights away from several states to tax them higher then the Northern states because of agriculture was more expensive than industrial uses" Pro is arguing that Lincoln passed some legislation (possibly either of the two revenue Acts) that unfairly taxed Southern stats. This is false. As all 11 Confederate states had already seceded by the passage of the first Revenue Act, they were not affected by any import, excise, property, or income taxes levied by the Government under Lincoln. Sundown clauses in these pieces of legislation had them expire soon after Appomattox, meaning that Southern states weren't affected by Lincoln's tax plans. 2. "Many Northern didn't believe in war and wanted the South to leave in peace but Lincoln declared war on the seceding states then lost four more. " Popular sentiment after Fort Sumter was generally pro-invasion. (1861: The Civil War Awakening Goodheart, Adam). By invading the C.S.A., Lincoln was listening to the popular will in the Union. 3. "Lincoln abused his power, and misread the Constitution. If a state (Maryland) wanted to leave let them leave don't send there governor to jail and there secessionist to death. That's what he did to keep Maryland in the Union! " Quoting the U.S. Constitution (emphasis in CAPS), "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in CASES OF REBELLION or Invasion the public Safety may require it." Thus, Lincoln's actions during the Civil War, including martial law in Kentucky and Maryland, as well as suspension of Habeus Corpus, were perfectly legal, as the C.S.A. was in open rebellion. 4. "He murdered innocent Men of the South; During the war Lincoln sent generals like Sherman to March and steal and kill Planters and just innocent family's living in there houses. More Americans, North and South died under a presidents power than any other presidents in American History." Sherman did his deed without any conversation with Washington, so Lincoln can't be blamed for this action. And also, before the fall of Atlanta, confederate resistance was generally strong enough in most areas to prevent scorched-earth policies like those of General Sherman. 5. " Lincoln blocked of all Southern Ports without a war document, that's a war crime. And He invaded another country." The First Geneva Convention was not written and ratified until 1864, and neither it, nor future Geneva Conventions, nor the Hague Conventions, dealt with potential illegality of the blockade of enemy ports. Thus, this is not a war crime. 6. "and sent soldiers into the Charleston Harbor." I am assuming Pro is referencing the garrisons in Forts Sumter and Moultrie which were fired upon in April of 1861. This garrison was there when south Carolina seceded in December of 1860, and thus was not stationed there by Lincoln. (Burton, E. Milby. The Siege of Charleston 1861"1865) I'd also like to add to my argument that Lincoln passed the Homestead, Morrill Land Grant Colleges, and National Banking Act, all of which helped America by boosting settlement in the West, creating many new affordable state colleges, and regulating American currency. Pro, time's yours.