Lincoln was not inaugurated until March of 1861. South Carolina seceded December 20, 1860 . . . Mississippi January 9, 1861 . . . Florida January 10, 1861 . . . Alabama January 11, 1861 . . . Georgia January 19, 1861 . . . Louisiana January 26, 1861 . . . Texas February 1, 1861 . . . And thus, even before Lincoln took office, these United States came to an end. And you thought they still existed? How silly of you.
Point taken. Just call me “daffy.” ;-)