Lincoln violated international and neutrality laws several times and almost brought on a war with Great Britain. Lincoln was also violating laws within European countries by openly recruiting mercenaries from the local populations. Lincoln even lost the argument with Europe that the Confederacy was not a legitimate or legal government when Great Britain declared both the Union and Confederate governments’ equal belligerents under international law; plus Lincoln's government was chastised by the Vatican for the amount of death and suffering of this war.
What in the world were they looking at when they made their choices?

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David can you recommend some sources to back up the above statements. I find this very interesting.

Thanks,
GP