When President Lincoln made this statement:
"You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn
one to preserve, protect, defend' it."
Abraham Lincoln, Inaugural Address, 1861
he indicated his commitment to...
O allow the Southern States to leave the Union
O take strong action to maintain the Union
O make fundamental changes in the United States Government
O defend the institution of slavery throughout the United States