Lincoln’s ‘apple of gold’ and the case against court-packing
Shortly before leaving Springfield for his inauguration in 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln made notes for his own use on the nearly impossible task before him: preserving the Union.
TL;DR
- President-elect Abraham Lincoln made notes on preserving the Union before his 1861 inauguration.
- Lincoln's beliefs were anchored in the Declaration of Independence.
- He referred to the Declaration as an 'apple of gold,' crucial for free government and prosperity.
- The Union and Constitution were described as the 'picture of silver' framed around the 'apple.'
- Lincoln stressed that the picture was for the apple, not the apple for the picture, and advocated for their protection.