[rustbucket]

What we probably had was you and your buddies claiming conspiracy and being absolutely flabergasted when the rest of us didn't buy on to your paranoid fantasies.

I posted a link to you once about Lincoln bribing three congressmen to vote for Nevada statehood. Charles Dana had done that at Lincoln's behest, and the link I provided was to a 4CJ post giving Dana's recounting of the affair. Here's the link: Link

Tsk. I see you're still having selective memory problems.

[x]

Assuming Dana's story is true, the goal was passage of a constitutional amendment to ban slavery. As Dana himself says:

I have always felt that this little piece of side politics was one of the most judicious, humane, and wise uses of executive authority that I have ever assisted in or witnessed.

And how do you think things get done in Washington, anyway?

Trading of favors and appointments is government's lifeblood.

It's not that the end justifies the means, though. It's that favor-trading was unavoidable in 19th century US politics.

[Non-Sequitur]

Tsk. I see you're still having selective memory problems.

No, just not blessed with your odd definition of words.