6. Why does Lincoln say that "we cannot dedicate ... we cannot consecrate ... we cannot hallow this ground," when that is the supposed purpose of the event?

because the dead soldiers were the only ones who could accomplish this.

Explanation:

This is part of a speech delivered by president Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War on Thursday, November 19, 1863. When making this part of the speech he meant said this because the dead soldiers were the only ones who could accomplish this. Meaning that the extreme sacrifice that the soldiers made, no one could ever perform a greater act in the soil on which they died.