Foundations of Freedom

The True Civil War

When the Southern States (anti-federalist and States-rights advocates) seceded, Congress could not make a quorum, so, on March 28, 1861, it adjourned sine die (Latin: without a day); that is, without announcing when it would reconvene. It thereby vacated the de jure (lawful) constitutional government.

This created an emergency, as it left no civilian government in place and required

military rule to maintain order.