Presentation by JWCC professor on Lincoln’s abuse of war powers set for Thursday

QUINCY — The Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum, 128 N. Fifth, will hold its History Happy Hour on Thursday, June 19. Steven Belko from John Wood Community College will present “The Inauguration of the Imperial Presidency: Lincoln’s Abuse of the War Powers, a constitutional and legal assessment of the Civil War from the Union perspective.”

The Civil War raised issues about how a constitution designed for a limited government could function during what amounted to total war, as many believed the U. S. Constitution could not survive an internecine struggle and that for military victory the limited governmental framework would have to be destroyed. 

Did the Constitution survive the Civil War?  Did Lincoln preserve the traditional constitutional framework?  Did it forever defeat and destroy “slavery” in other manifestations? 

Doors for History Happy Hour will open at 5 p.m. with a mini reception that includes light refreshments. The presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a question-and-answer session and conversation to follow.

The public is welcome, and there is no cost to attend. However, donations to the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum will be accepted on site.

For more information, visit www.lincolndouglasdebatemuseum.com.