%422. Compromise attempted%.--The Republican party in 1861 had no intention of abolishing slavery. Its purpose was to stop the spread of slavery into the territories, to stop the admission of more slave states, but not to abolish slavery in states where it already existed. A strong wish therefore existed in the North to compromise the sectional differences. Many plans for a compromise were offered, but only one, that of Crittenden, of Kentucky, need be mentioned. He proposed that the Constitution should be so amended as to provide 1. That all territory of the United States north of 36° 30' should be free, and all south of it slave soil. 2. That slaves should be protected as property by all the departments of the territorial government. 3. That states should be admitted with or without slavery as their constitutions provided, whether the states were north or south of 36° 30'. 4. That Congress should have no power to shut slavery out of the territories. 5. That the United States should pay owners for rescued fugitive slaves. As these propositions recognized the right of property in slaves, that is, put the black man on a level with horses and cattle, the Republicans rejected them, and the attempt to compromise ended in failure. %423. A Proposed Thirteenth Amendment%.--One act of great significance was done. A proposition to add a thirteenth amendment to the Constitution was submitted to the states. It read, "No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere within any state with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said states." Even Lincoln approved of this, and two states, Maryland and Ohio, accepted it. But the issue was at hand. It was too late to compromise. %424. Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President%.--Lincoln and Hamlin were inaugurated on March 4, 1861, and in his speech from the Capitol steps Lincoln was very careful to state just what he wanted to do. 1. "I have no purpose," said he, "directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists." 2. "I consider the Union is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability I shall take care ... that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the states." 3. "In doing this there need be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority." 4. "The power confided in me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government and to collect the duties and imposts." [Illustration: Fort Sumter]