Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/363

CHAPTER VII.

OPPORTUNITY TO STAY SECESSION LOST.

YET FOUR MONTHS OF POWER—BUCHANAN’S VACILLATION—OPINION AGAINST COERCION—SCOTT PROPOSES FORCE—MAJOR ANDERSON INSTRUCTED—REINFORCEMENT OF SUMTER CONSIDERED-UNITED STATES CONGRESS TAKES UP THE CRISIS—CRITTENDEN, STEPHENS AND DAVIS IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS PLEAD FOR AN ADJUSTMENT—COMMITTEE OF THIRTY-THREE AND COMMITTEE OF THIRTEEN.

THERE were yet four months of the Buchanan administration, from November 3, 1860, to March 4, 1861, during which time the majority of the people favorable to the peaceful settlement of all issues between themselves and the South had control of the government and power to define its policy. The folly of division among those who had supported national parties was now clearly seen, and early in November the temper of the North was conciliatory, and the sentiment in the South, except South Carolina, was stronger for the Union than against it. President Buchanan had already suffered by the breach in his party, and now had sufficient cause to fear that a broken Union would pass from his hands into the direction of the triumphant Republicans. Unfortunately, he seems to have despaired at once of any arrest of the progress of secession, and only hoped to cast the responsibility of making war upon his successor. In this condition the South was without power over the Northern States and without substantial influence in the general government. Although its friends were victorious in the general ballot, they were