We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.

Hello, I am Abraham Lincoln. Let me begin by sharing a statement that speaks to the essence of democratic governance and the role of the people in preserving justice and accountability: "We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." When I first expressed this idea, the United States was at a crossroads. The Civil War loomed large, and the nation was grappling with profound questions about the balance of power, the meaning of justice, and the survival of democracy. I believed deeply in the principle that power ultimately resides with the people, and that their role is not merely to observe governance, but to actively ensure that those entrusted with authority remain faithful to the Constitution and the values it enshrines. The Constitution is not a tool for personal gain or political advantage. It is a sacred document that guarantees liberty, justice, and equality. Yet, throughout history, there have been those who sought to twist its meaning to serve their own ends, to concentrate power, and to erode the very checks and balances designed to prevent tyranny. In my time, it was the institution of slavery that tested the limits of this principle. Today, the challenges are different, but the essence of the struggle remains the same.