Abraham Lincoln : a history : the full and authorized record of his private life and public career . rd to be magnanimoushad secured his appointment,though Harvey opposed his nom-ination at Chicago. Being a cor-respondent, and believed to betrusty, the secret was impru-dently imparted to him. Harveywas a South Carolinian, a class-mate and an intimate friend ofMagrath; and being also of the compromising and conciliat-ing class of politicians, he had constantly hoped for a peaceablearrangement, and had, upon thehearsay information long currentin Washington, assured his friendthat Sumter would be
Abraham Lincoln : a history : the full and authorized record of his private life and public career . rd to be magnanimoushad secured his appointment,though Harvey opposed his nom-ination at Chicago. Being a cor-respondent, and believed to betrusty, the secret was impru-dently imparted to him. Harveywas a South Carolinian, a class-mate and an intimate friend ofMagrath; and being also of the compromising and conciliat-ing class of politicians, he had constantly hoped for a peaceablearrangement, and had, upon thehearsay information long currentin Washington, assured his friendthat Sumter would be given his personal honorthus involved, he hastened tosend the correct information assoon as he gained it. The affairwas a gross error of judgment,and a breach of confidence, butnot an act of treachery. Sewardobtained knowledge of the tele-gram the same afternoon it wassent, and in his first indignationadvised the President to revokeHarveys commission. Butthinking it over coolly, saidSeward, I thought it wrong topunish a man for his stupid folly,when really he had committedno COLONEL GtrSTAVtrS V. FOX. THE SUMTER EXPEDITION 33 We have seen that for more than a week theproblem had been determined in the mind ofPresident Lincoln. He saw not only the breadthand depth of the mighty struggle impending, butthe true relation and effect of the intellectual andmoral influences and physical forces to be drawninto contention. Abstractly it was enough thatthe Government was in the right. But to makethe issue sure, he determined that in addition therebellion should be put in the wrong. Libertyshould have not only the judgment but the sym-pathy of mankind. In his own language, havingsaid to them in the inaugural address, You canhave no conflict without being yourselves theaggiessors, he took pains not only to keep thisdeclaration good, but also to keep the case so freefrom the power of ingenious sophistry as that theworld should not be able to misunderstand it. Towards t
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