abraham lincoln and the union-第14章
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ck to the now ruined Fort Moultrie。 One remark which he let fall has been remembered as evidence of his querulous state of mind： 〃You are pressing me too importunately〃 exclaimed the unhappy President； 〃you don't give me time to consider； you don't give me time to say my prayers； I always say my prayers when required to act upon any great state affair。〃 One remembers Hampden 〃seeking the Lord〃 about ship money； and one realizes that the same act may have a vastly different significance in different temperaments。
Buchanan； however； was virtually ready to give way to the demand of the commissioners。 He drew up a paper to that effect and showed it to the Cabinet。 Then the turning…point came。 In a painful interview； Black； long one of his most trusted friends； told him of his intention to resign； and that Stanton would go with him and probably also the Postmaster…General； Holt。 The idea of losing the support of these strong personalities terrified Buchanan； who immediately fell into a panic。 Handing Black the paper he had drawn up； Buchanan begged him to retain office and to alter the paper as he saw fit。 To this Black agreed。 The demand for the surrender of the forts was refused； Anderson was not ordered back to Moultrie； and for the brief remainder of Buchanan's administration Black acted as prime minister。
A very powerful section of the Northern democracy； well typified by their leaders at Washington； had thus emerged from political evasion on the Northern side。 These men； known afterwards as War Democrats； combined with the Republicans to form the composite Union party which supported Lincoln。 It is significant that Stanton eventually reappeared in the Cabinet as Lincoln's Secretary of War； and that along with him appeared another War Democrat； Gideon Welles； Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy。 With them； at last； Douglas； the greatest of all the old Democrats of the North； took his position。 What became of the other factions of the old Democratic party remains to be told。
While Buchanan； early in the month； was weeping over the pitilessness of fate； more practical Northerners were grappling with the question of what was to be done about the situation。 In their thoughts they anticipated a later statesman and realized that they were confronted by a condition and not by a theory。 Secession was at last a reality。 Which course should they take？
What strikes us most forcibly； as we look back upon that day； is the widespread desire for peace。 The abolitionists form a conspicuous example。 Their watchword was 〃Let the erring sisters go in peace。〃 Wendell Phillips； their most gifted orator； a master of spoken style at once simple and melodious； declaimed splendidly against war。 Garrison； in 〃The Liberator〃； followed his example。 Whittier put the same feeling into his verse：
They break the links of Union； shall we light The flames of hell to weld anew the chain On that red anvil where each blow is pain？
Horace Greeley said in an editorial in the 〃New York Tribune〃： 〃If the cotton states shall decide that they can do better out of the Union than in it； we shall insist on letting them go in peace。 Whenever a considerable section of our Union shall deliberately resolve to go out； we shall resist all coercive measures designed to keep them in。 We hope never to live in a republic where one section is pinned to the residue by bayonets。〃
The Democrats naturally clung to their traditions； and； even when they went over； as Black and Stanton did； to the Anti…Southern group； they still hoped that war would not be the result。 Equally earnest against war were most of the Republicans； though a few； to be sure； were ready to swing the 〃Northern hammer。〃 Summer prophesied that slavery would 〃go down in blood。〃 But the bulk of the Republicans were for a sectional compromise； and among them there was general approbation of a scheme which contemplated reviving the line of the Missouri Compromise； and thus frankly admitting the existence of two distinct sections； and guaranteeing to each the security of its own institutions。 The greatest Republican boss of that day； Thurlow Weed； came out in defense of this plan。
No power was arrayed more zealously on the side of peace of any kind than the power of money。 It was estimated that two hundred millions of dollars were owed by Southerners to Northerners。 War； it was reasoned； would cause the cancellation of these obligations。 To save their Southern accounts； the moneyed interests of the North joined the extremists of Abolition in pleading to let the erring sisters go in peace； if necessary； rather than provoke them to war and the confiscation of debts。 It was the dread of such an outcomewhich finally happened and ruined many Northern firmsthat caused the stock…market in New York to go up and down with feverish uncertainty。 Banks suspended payment in Washington； Baltimore； and Philadelphia。 The one important and all…engrossing thing in the mind's eye of all the financial world at this moment was that specter of unpaid Southern accounts。
At this juncture； Senator Crittenden of Kentucky submitted to the Senate a plan which has been known ever since as the Crittenden Compromise。 It was similar to Weed's plan； but it also provided that the division of the country on the Missouri Compromise line should be established by a constitutional amendment； which would thus forever solidify sectionalism。 Those elements of the population generally called the conservative and the responsible were delighted。 Edward Everett wrote to Crittenden； 〃I saw with great satisfaction your patriotic movement； and I wish from the bottom of my heart it might succeed〃； and August Belmont in a letter to Crittenden spoke for the moneyed interest： 〃I have yet to meet the first Union…loving man； in or out of politics； who does not approve your compromise proposition。。。。〃
The Senate submitted the Compromise to a Committee of Thirteen。 In this committee the Southern leaders； Toombs and Davis； were both willing to accept the Compromise； if a majority of the Republican members would agree。 Indeed； if the Republicans would agree to it； there seemed no reason why a new understanding between the sections might not be reached； and no reason why sectionalism； if accepted as the basis of the government； might not solve the immediate problem and thus avert war。
In this crisis all eyes were turned to Seward； that conspicuous Republican who was generally looked upon as the real head of his party。 And Seward； at that very moment； was debating whether to accept Lincoln's offer of the Secretaryship of State； for he considered it vital to have an understanding with Lincoln on the subject of the Compromise。 He talked the matter over with Weed； and they decided that Weed should go to Springfield and come to terms with Lincoln。 It was the interview between Weed and Lincoln held； it seems； on the very day on which the Ordinance of Secession was adoptedwhich gave to that day its double significance。
Lincoln refused point…blank to accept the compromise and he put his refusal in writing。 The historic meaning of his refusal； and the significance of his determination not to solve the problem of the hour by accepting a dual system of government based on frankly sectional assumptions； were probably； in a measure； lost on both Weed and Seward。 They had； however； no misunderstanding of its practical effect。 This crude Western lawyer had certain ideas from which he would not budge； and the party would have to go along with him。 Weed and Seward therefore promptly fell into line； and Seward accepted the Secretaryship and came out in opposition to the Compromise。 Other Republicans with whom Lincoln had communicated by letter made known his views； and Greeley announced them in The Tribune。 The outcome was the solid alignment of all the Republicans in Congress against the Compromise。 As a result； this last attempt to reunite the sections came to nothing。
Not more than once or twice； if ever； in American history； has there been such an anxious New Year's Day as that which ushered in 1861。 A few days before； a Republican Congressman had written to one of his constituents： 〃The heavens are indeed black and an awful
