_Lincoln_: It remains a question of sending provisions. I charge you, all of you, to weigh this thing with all your understanding. To temporise now, cannot, in my opinion, avert war. To speak plainly to the world in standing by our resolution to hold Fort Sumter with all our means, and in a plain declaration that the Union must be preserved, will leave us with a clean cause, simply and loyally supported. I tremble at the thought of war. But we have in our hands a sacred trust. It is threatened. We have had no thought of aggression. We have been the aggressed. Persuasion has failed, and I conceive it to be our duty to resist. To withhold supplies from Anderson would be to deny that duty. Gentlemen, the matter is before you. _A pause_. For provisioning the fort? LINCOLN, CHASE, _and_ BLAIR _hold up their hands._ For immediate withdrawal? SEWARD, CAMERON, SMITH, HOOK, _and_ WELLES _hold up their hands. There is a pause of some moments_. Gentlemen, I may have to take upon myself the responsibility of over-riding your vote. It will be for me to satisfy Congress and public opinion. Should I receive any resignations? _There is silence_. I thank you for your consideration, gentlemen. That is all. _They rise, and the Ministers, with the exception of_ SEWARD, _go out, talking as they pass beyond the door_. You are wrong, Seward, wrong. _Seward_: I believe you. I respect your judgment even as far as that. But I must speak as I feel. _Lincoln_: May I speak to this man alone? _Seward_: Certainly. _He goes out_. LINCOLN _stands motionless for a moment. Then he moves to a map of the United States, much larger than the one in his Illinois home, and looks at it as he did there. He goes to the far door and opens it_. _Lincoln:_ Will you come in? _The_ MESSENGER _comes_. Can you ride back to Major Anderson at once? _The Messenger_: Yes, sir. _Lincoln_: Tell him that we cannot reinforce him immediately. We haven't the men. _The Messenger_: Yes, sir. _Lincoln_: And say that the first convoy of supplies will leave Washington this evening. _The Messenger_: Yes, sir. _Lincoln_: Thank you. _The_ MESSENGER goes. LINCOLN _stands at the table for a moment; he rings the bell_. HAWKINS _comes in_. Mr. Hay, please. _Hawkins_: Yes, sir. _He goes, and a moment later_ HAY _comes in. Lincoln:_ Go to General Scott. Ask him to come to me at once. _Hay_: Yes, sir. _He goes_. THE CURTAIN FALLS. _The two Chroniclers_: You who have gone gathering Cornflowers and meadowsweet, Heard the hazels glancing down On September eves, Seen the homeward rooks on wing Over fields of golden wheat, And the silver cups that crown Water-lily leaves; You who know the tenderness Of old men at eve-tide, Coming from the hedgerows, Coming from the plough, And the wandering caress Of winds upon the woodside, When the crying yaffle goes Underneath the bough;