Lincoln was not guranteeing rights. He took away the right of the Southron man because they were following the Constitution. Per the 10th amendment, a state could secede. The South had their own government Confederate States of America. There was no intention to start a war until Lincoln waged the war by breaking the treaty with Ft. Pickens in Florida.
If secession was illegal, how come we have 50 states? The way I see it is there is only 49 states. Western Virginia is not a real state, it belongs to Virginia. Otherwise the right of secession was legal.
Lincoln violated rights of everyone in the country. It did not matter if you were from the north or South.
The war in New York, Lincoln ordered the union soldiers to fire upon the blacks, irishmen, and northerners alike.
I hope this enlightens you a little to how bad and corrupt Lincoln really was.
A excellent book, the real Lincoln by Thomas Dilorenzo.
God Bless Dixie
Kirk Carter