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lican Congressman had written to one of his constituents： 〃The heavens are indeed black and an awful storm is gathering。。。I see no way that either North or South can escape its fury。〃 Events were indeed moving fast toward disaster。 The garrison at Sumter was in need of supplies； and in the first week of the new year Buchanan attempted to relieve its wants。 But a merchant vessel； the Star of the West； by which supplies were sent； was fired upon by the South Carolina authorities as it approached the harbor and was compelled to turn back。 This incident caused the withdrawal from the Cabinet of the last opposition membersThompson； of Mississippi； the Secretary of the Interior； and Thomas； of Maryland； the Secretary of the Treasury。 In the course of the month five Southern States followed South Carolina out of the Union； and their Senators and Representatives resigned from the Congress of the United States。
The resignation of Jefferson Davis was communicated to the Senate in a speech of farewell which even now holds the imagination of the student； and which to the men of that day； with the Union crumbling around them； seemed one of the most mournful and dramatic of orations。 Davis possessed a beautiful； melodious voice； he had a noble presence； tall； erect； spare； even ascetic； with a flashing blue eye。 He was deeply moved by the occasion； his address was a requiem。 That he withdrew in sorrow but with fixed determination； no one who listened to him could doubt。 Early in February； the Southern Confederacy was formed with Davis as its provisional President。 With the prophetic vision of a logical mind； he saw that war was inevitable； and he boldly proclaimed his vision。 In various speeches on his way South； he had assured the Southern people that war was coming； and that it would be long and bloody。
The withdrawal of these Southern members threw the control of the House into the hands of the Republicans。 Their realization of their power was expressed in two measures which also passed the Senate； Kansas was admittedas a State with an anti…slavery constitution； and the Morrill tariff； which they had failed to pass the previous spring； now became law。 Thus the Republicans began redeeming their pledges to the anti…slavery men on the one hand and to the commercial interest on the other。 The time had now arrived for the Republican nominee to proceed from Springfield to Washington。 The journey was circuitous in order to enable Lincoln to speak at a number of places。 Never before； probably； had the Northern people felt such tense strain as at that moment； never had they looked to an incoming President with such anxious doubt。 Would he prevent war？ Or； if he could not do that； would he be able to extricate the countryHeaven alone knew how！without a terrible ordeal？ Since his election； Lincoln had remained quietly at Springfield。 Though he had influenced events through letters to Congressmen； his one conspicuous action during that winter was the defeat of the Crittenden Compromise。 The Southern President had called upon his people to put their house in order as preparation for war。 What； now； had Lincoln to say to the people of the North？
The biographers of Lincoln have not satisfactorily revealed the state of his mind between election and inauguration。 We may safely guess that his silence covered a great internal struggle。 Except for his one action in defeating the Compromise； he had allowed events to drift； but by that one action he had taken upon himself the responsibility for the drift。 Though the country at that time did not fully appreciate this aspect of the situation； who now can doubt that Lincoln did？ His mind was always a lonely one。 His very humor has in it； so often； the note of solitude； of one who is laughing to make the best of things； of one who is spiritually alone。 During those months when the country drifted from its moorings； and when war was becoming steadily more probable； Lincoln； after the manner of the prophets； wrestled alone with the problems which he saw before him。 From the little we know of his inward state； it is hard for us to conclude that he was happy。 A story which is told by his former partner； Mr。 Herndon； seems significant。 As Lincoln was leaving his unpretentious law…office for the last time； he turned to Mr。 Herndon and asked him not to take down their old sign。 〃Let it hang there undisturbed；〃 said he。 〃Give our clients to understand that the election of a President makes no difference in the firm。。。。 If I live； I'm coming back some time； and then we'll go right on practising law as if nothing had happened。〃
How far removed from self…sufficiency was the man whose thoughts； on the eve of his elevation to the Presidency； lingered in a provincial law office； fondly insistent that only death should prevent his returning some time and resuming in those homely surroundings the life he had led previous to his greatness。 In a mood of wistfulness and of intense preoccupation； he began his journey to Washington。 It was not the mood from which to strike fire and kindle hope。 To the anxious； listening country his speeches on the journey to Washington were disappointing。 Perhaps his strangely sensitive mind felt too powerfully the fatefulness of the moment and reacted with a sort of lightness that did not really represent the real man。 Be that as it may； he was never less convincing than at that time。 Nor were people impressed by his bearing。 Often he appeared awkward； too much in appearance the country lawyer。 He acted as a man who was ill at ease and he spoke as a man who had nothing to say。 Gloom darkened the North as a consequence of these unfortunate speeches； for they expressed an optimism which we cannot believe he really felt； and which hurt him in the estimation of the country。 〃There is no crisis but an artificial one；〃 was one of his ill…timed assurances； and another； 〃There is nothing going wrong。。。。 There is nothing that really hurts any one。〃 Of his supporters some were discouraged； others were exasperated； and an able but angry partisan even went so far as to write in a private letter； 〃Lincoln is a Simple Susan。〃
The fourth of March arrived； and with it the end of Lincoln's blundering。 One good omen for the success of the new Administration was the presence of Douglas on the inaugural platform。 He had accepted fate； deeply as it wounded him； and had come out of the shattered party of evasion on the side of his section。 For the purpose of showing his support of the administration at this critical time； he had taken a place on the stand where Lincoln was to speak。 By one of those curious little dramatic touches with which chance loves to embroider history； the presence of Douglas became a gracious detail in the memory of the day。 Lincoln； worn and awkward； continued to hold his hat in his hand。 Douglas； with the tact born of social experience； stepped forward and took it from him withoutexposing Lincoln's embarrassment。
The inaugural address which Lincoln now pronounced had little similarity to those unfortunate utterances which he had made on the journey to Washington。 The cloud that had been over him； whatever it was； had lifted。 Linco