Final answer:
Abraham Lincoln used presidential war powers and military necessity to persuade some members of Congress to vote his way. Some of his methods could be seen as sneaky or duplicitous, but were not strictly illegal. Whether his methods were justified is a matter of debate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abraham Lincoln used various methods to persuade some members of Congress to vote his way. One method he employed was the use of presidential war powers and the concepts of military necessity and national security. For example, he suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and issued the Emancipation Proclamation, citing the military necessity of freeing enslaved people in Confederate-controlled territory.
Some of Lincoln's methods could be perceived as sneaky or duplicitous, as he blurred the boundaries between acceptable dissent and unacceptable disloyalty. However, strictly speaking, his methods were not illegal.
Whether Lincoln's methods were justified is a matter of debate. Some argue that he took necessary actions to preserve the Union and end slavery, while others criticize his use of executive power. Personally, I believe that some of his methods were justified in the context of the challenges he faced during the Civil War.
As for how I would have acted, it is difficult to say without being in the same historical context. However, I would strive to find a balance between upholding principles of democracy and ensuring the well-being of the nation.