amusementatthefurious。CouldamanwholaughedwhenyoupreachedonthebeautyofthehewingofAgag，couldsuchamanbesincere？AndthatSewardinsomerespectswasnotsincere，historygenerallyadmits。Helovedtopokefunathisopponentsbyappearingtosneerathimself，byridiculingtheideathathewaseverserious。Hisscaleofpoliticalvalueswasdifferentfromthatofmostofhisfollowers。Nineteentimesoutoftwenty，hewouldtreatwhattheytermed“principles“asmerepoliticalcounters，aslegitimatesubjectsofbargain。Ifbyanydealhecouldtradeoffanyorallofthesenineteeninordertosecurethetwentieth，whichforhimwastheonlyvitalone，heneverscrupledtodoso。Againstaluridbackgroundofpoliticalferocity，thisamused，ironicfigurecametoberatedbytheextremists，bothinhisownandintheenemycampasMephistopheles。
　　NoqualitycouldhaveendearedhimmorecertainlytoLincolnthantheveryonewhichthebigotsmisunderstood。FromhisearliestyouthLincolnhadbeengovernedbythissamequality。
　　Withhisnon-censoriousmind，whichacceptedsomuchoflifeashefoundit，whichwasforeverstrippingprinciplesoftheiraccretions，whatcouldbemoreinevitablethanhiswarmingtotheonegreatmanatWashingtonwholikehimheldthatsuchapointofviewwastheonlyrationalone。Seward’sironicpeacefulnessinthemidstofthestormgainedinlusterbecauseallabouthimragedatempestofferocity，mitigated，atleastsofarasthedistractedPresidentcouldsee，onlybyself-
　　interestorpacifism。
　　AsLincolncameintooffice，hecouldseeandhearmanysignsofarisingfiercenessofsectionalhatred。HissecretaryrecordswithdisgustaproposaltoconquertheGulfStates，expeltheirwhitepopulation，andreducetheregiontoagiganticstatepreserve，wherenegroesshouldgrowcottonundernationalsupervision。[1]“WeoftheNorth，“saidSenatorBakerofOregon，“areamajorityoftheUnion，andwewillgovernourUnioninourownway。“[2]AttheotherextremewasthehystericalpacifismoftheAbolitionists。PartofLincoln’sabidingquarrelwiththeAbolitionistswastheirlackofnationalfeeling。Theirpeculiarformofintrospectionhadinjectedintopoliticstheideaofpersonalsin。Theirpersonalresponsibilityforslavery——theybeingpartofacountrythattoleratedit——wastheirbasalinspiration。
　　Consequently，themostdistinctiveAbolitionistswelcomedthisopportunitytocastofftheirresponsibility。Ifwarhadbeenproposedasacrusadetoabolishslavery，theirattitudemighthavebeendifferentButinMarch，1860，noonebutthefewultra-extremists，whomscarcelyanybodyheeded，dreamedofsuchawar。AwartorestoretheUnionwastheonlysortthatwasconsideredseriously。Suchawar，theAbolitionistsbitterlycondemned。Theyseizeduponpacifismastheirdefense。SaidWhittieroftheSecedingStates：
　　TheybreakthelinksofUnion：shallwelightThefiresofhelltoweldanewthechain，Onthatredanvilwhereeachblowispain？
　　ThefuryandthefearoffendedLincolninequalmeasure。Afterlongyearsopposingthepoliticaltemperoftheextremists，hewasnotthemannowtochangefront。Toonewhobelievedhimselfmarkedoutforatragicend，thecowardiceattheheartofthepacifismofhistimewasrevolting。ItwasfortunateforhisownpeaceofmindthathecouldherecountontheSecretaryofState。NoargumentbasedonfearofpainwouldmeetinSewardwithanythingbutderision。“Theytellus，“hehadoncesaid，andthewordsexpressedhisconstantattitude，“thatwearetoencounteropposition。Why，blessmysoul，didanybodyeverexpecttoreachafortune，orfame，orhappinessonearthoracrowninheaven，withoutencounteringresistanceandopposition？Whatarewemademenforbuttoencounterandovercomeoppositionarrayedagainstusinthelineofourduty？“[3]
　　Butiftheferocityandthecowardicewereoffensiveanddisheartening，therewassomethingelsethatwasbeneathcontempt。Neverwasself-interestmoreshockinglydisplayed。
　　Itwasrevealedinmanyways，butimpingeduponthenewPresidentinonlyone。Ahordeofoffice-seekersbesiegedhimintheWhiteHouse。Theparalleltothisamazingpicturecanhardlybefoundinhistory。Itwastakenforgrantedthatthenewpartywouldmakeacleansweepofthewholecivillist，thateverygovernmentemployeedowntothehumblestmessengerboytooyoungtohavepoliticalideaswastobearthelabelofthevictoriousparty。EveryCongressmanwhohadmadepromisestohisconstituents，everypoliticianofeverygradewhothoughthehadthepartyinhisdebt，everyadventurerwhoonanypretextcouldmakeashowingofpartyservicerendered，pouredintoWashington。Itwasamotleyhorde。
　　“Hark，hark，thedogsdobark，Thebeggarsarecomingtotown。“
　　TheyconvertedtheWhiteHouseintoaleaguer。Theyswarmedintothecorridorsandeventheprivatepassages。Sodensewastheswarmthatitwasdifficulttomakeone’swayeitherinorout。Lincolndescribedhimselfbytheimageofamanrentingroomsatoneendofhishousewhiletheotherendwasonfire。[4]
　　AndallthiswhiletheexistenceoftheRepublicwasatstake!
　　Itdidnotoccurtohimthatitwassafetodefythehorde，tosenditaboutitsbusiness。Hereagain，thefigureofSewardstoodoutinbrilliantlightagainstthesomberbackground。
　　OneofSeward’sfacultieswashispowertoformdevotedlieutenants。Hehadthatsureandnimblejudgmentwhichenablessomementoinspiretheirlieutenantsratherthancategoricallytoinstructthem。Allthesordidsideofhispoliticalgameshemanagedinthisway。Hedidnotappearhimselfasthebargainer。Intheshamefuleagernessofmostofthepoliticianstofindofficesfortheirretainers，Sewardwasconspicuousbycontrast。EventheCabinetwasnotfreefromthisviceofcateringtothethirstyhorde。[5]Alone，atthisjuncture，Sewarddetachedhimselffromthepettyaffairsofthehourandgavehiswholeattentiontostatecraft。
　　Hehadadefinitepolicy。AnotherpointofcontactwithLincolnwastheattitudeofbothtowardtheUnion，supplementedasitwasbytheirviewsoftheplaceofslaveryintheproblemtheyconfronted。Bothwerenationalistsreadytomakeanysacrificesforthenationalidea。Bothregardedslaveryasanissueofsecondimportance。Bothwerepreparedforgreatconcessionsifconvincedthat，ultimately，theirconcessionswouldstrengthenthetrendofAmericanlifetowardageneralexaltationofnationality。
　　Ontheotherhand，theirdifferences——
　　Sewardapproachedtheprobleminthesametemper，withthesameassumptions，thatwerehisinthepreviousDecember。Hestillbelievedthathismainpurposewastoenableagroupofpoliticianstosavetheirfacesbyeffectingastrategicretreat。ImputingtotheSouthernleadersanattitudeofpureself-interest，hebelievedthatifallowedtoplaythegameastheydesired，theywouldmarktimeuntilcircumstancesrevealedtothemwhethertherewasmoreprofitforthemintheUnionorout；healsobelievedthatifsufficienttimecouldbegiven，andifnoarmedclashtookplace，itwouldbedemonstratedfirst，thattheydidnothavesostrongaholdontheSouthastheyhadthoughttheyhad；andsecond，thatonthewhole，itwastotheirintereststopatchupthequarrelandcomebackintotheUnion。Buthealsosawthattheyhadaseriousproblemofleadership，which，ifrudelyhandled，mightmakeitimpossibleforthemtostandstill。Theyhadinflamedthesentimentofstate-patriotism。InSouthCarolina，particularly，thepopulardemandwasforindependence。WiththiswentthedemandthatFortSumterinCharlestonHarbor，garrisonedbyFederaltroops，shouldbesurrendered，orifnotsurrendered，takenforciblyfromtheUnitedStates。AfewcannonshotsatSumterwouldmeanwar。AnarticleinSeward’screedofstatecraftassertedthatthepopulacewillalwaysgowildoverawar。TopreventawarfeverintheNorthwasthefirstconditionofhispolicyathome。Therefore，inordertopreventit，thefirststepinsavinghisenemies’faceswastosafeguardthemagainstthesamedangerintheirowncalm。HemusthelpthemtopreventawarfeverintheSouth。Hesawbutonewaytodothis。Theconclusionwhichbecamethebedrockofhispolicywasinevitable。Sumtermustbeevacuated。
　　Evenbeforetheinauguration，hehadbroachedthisideatoLincoln。HehadtriedtokeepLincolnfrominsertingintheinauguralthewords，“Thepowerconfidedtomewillbeusedtohold，occupyandpossessthepropertyandplacesbelongingtothegovernment。“Hehadproposedinstead，“Thepowerconfidedinmeshallbeusedindeedwithefficacy，butalsowithdiscretion，ineverycaseandexigency，accordingtothecircumstancesactuallyexisting，andwithaviewandahopeofapeacefulsolutionofthenationaltroubles，andtherestorationoffraternalsympathiesandaffections。“[6]WiththerejectionofSeward’sprofferedrevision，adifferencebetweentheminpolicybegantodevelop。Lincoln，saysoneofhissecretaries，acceptedSeward’smainpurposebutdidnotsharehis“optimism。“[7]Itwouldbetruertosaythatinthisstageofhisdevelopment，hewaslackinginaudacity。Inhiseagersearchforadvice，hehadtostrikeabalancebetweenthedaringSewardwhoatthismomentbuiltentirelyonhisownpowerofpoliticaldevination，andthecautiousremainderoftheCabinetwhohadtheirearstothegroundtryingtheirbesttocatchthenoteofauthorityintherumblingsofvoxpopuli。
　　Forhisownpart，Lincolnbeganwithtworesolves：togoverycautiously，——andnotgivesomethingfornothing。Farfromhim，asyet，wasthatplungingmoodwhichinSewardpushedaudacitytothevergeofagamble。However，justprevioustotheinauguration，hetookacautiousstepinSeward’sdirection。
　　Virginia，likealltheotherStatesoftheupperSouth，wastornbythequestionwhichsidetotake。Therewasa“Union“
　　partyinVirginia，anda“Secession“party。AcommitteeofleadingUnionistsconferredwithLincoln。TheysawtheimmediateproblemverymuchasSewarddid。Theybelievedthatiftimewereallowed，thecrisiscouldbetidedoverandtheUnionrestored；butthefirstbreathofwarwouldwrecktheirhopes。TheconditionofbringingaboutanadjustmentwastheevacuationofSumter。LincolntoldthemthatifVirginiacouldbekeptintheUnionbytheevacuationofSumter，hewouldnothesitatetorecallthegarrison。[8]Afewdayslater，despitewhathehadsaidintheinaugural，herepeatedthisoffer。A
　　conventionwasthensittingatRichmondindebateupontherelationsofVirginiatotheUnion。Ifitwoulddropthematteranddissolve——soLincolntoldanothercommittee——hewouldevacuateSumterandtrusttherecoveryofthelowerSouthtonegotiation。[9]Noresults，sofarasisknown，cameofeitherofthoseoffers。
　　DuringthefirsthalfofMarch，theWashingtongovernmentmarkedtime。Theoffice-seekerscontinuedtobesiegethePresident。SouthCarolinacontinuedtoclamorforpossessionofSumter。TheConfederacysentcommissionerstoWashingtonwhomLincolnrefusedtorecognize。TheVirginiaConventionswayedthiswayandthat。
　　Sewardwentserenelyabouthisbusiness，confidentthateverythingwascertaintocomehiswaysoonorlate。HewentsofarastoadviseanintermediarytotelltheConfederateCommissionersthatalltheyhadtodotogetpossessionofSumterwastowait。TherestoftheCabinetpressedtheirearsmoretightlythanevertotheground。Therumblingsofvoxpopuliwerehardtointerpret。TheNorthappearedtobeintwominds。Thiswasrevealedthedayfollowingtheinauguration，whenaRepublicanClubinNewYorkheldahighdebateupontheconditionofthecountry。OnefactionwantedLincolntodeclareforawar-policy；anotherwishedtheClubtocontentitselfwithavoteofconfidenceintheAdministration。Eachfactionputitsviewsintoaresolutionandasahappydeviceformaintainingharmony，bothresolutionswerepassed。[10]Thefragmentary，miscellaneousevidenceofnewspapers，politicalmeetings，thetalkofleaders，localelections，formedaconfusedclamorwhicheachlistenerinterpretedaccordingtohispredisposition。ThemembersoftheCabinetintheirrelativeisolationatWashingtonfounditexceedinglydifficulttomakeuptheirmindswhatthepeoplewerereallysaying。Ofbutonethingtheywerecertain，andthatwasthattheyrepresentedaminorityparty。Beforecommittingthemselvesanyway，itwaslifeanddeathtoknowwhatportionoftheNorthwouldstandbythem。[11]
　　AtthispointbeganaperplexitythatwastotormentthePresidentalmosttothevergeofdistraction。Howfarcouldhetrusthismilitaryadvisers？OldGeneralScottwasattheheadofthearmy。Hehadoncebeenastriking，ifnotagreatfigure。Shouldhismilitaryadvicebeacceptedasfinal？
　　ScottinformedLincolnthatSumterwasshortoffoodandthatanyattempttorelieveitwouldcallforamuchlargerforcethanthegovernmentcouldmuster。Scotturgedhimtowithdrawthegarrison。LincolnsubmittedthemattertotheCabinet。Heaskedfortheiropinionsinwriting。[12]FiveadvisedtakingScottathiswordandgivingupallthoughtofrelievingSumter。Thereweretwodissenters。TheSecretaryoftheTreasury，SalmonPortlandChase，struckthekey-noteofhislaterpoliticalcareerbyanelaborateargumentonexpediency。
　　IfrelievingSumterwouldleadtocivilwar，Chasewasnotinfavorofrelief；butonthewholehedidnotthinkthatcivilwarwouldresult，andtherefore，onthewhole，hefavoredareliefexpedition。OnememberoftheCabinet，MontgomeryBlair，thePostmasterGeneral，animpetuous，fierceman，wasvehementforreliefatallcosts。LincolnwantedtoagreewithChaseandBlair。Hereasonedthatifthefortwasgivenup，thenecessityunderwhichitwasdonewouldnotbefullyunderstood；thatbymanyitwouldbeconstruedaspartofavoluntarypolicy，thatathomeitwoulddiscouragethefriendsoftheUnion，emboldenitsadversaries，andgofartoinsuretothematterarecognitionabroad。