_President-elect_. His trying position during interregnum; his election the signal for secession; damaged by persistent opposition of New York "Tribune"; his opinion of the proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee slavery; declared elected by electoral count; alleged plot to assassinate; maintains silence during winter; privately expresses dislike of compromise; declares against interfering with slavery; pronounces for coercing seceded States; his journey to Washington; warned of plot against; speeches in Pennsylvania; induced to avoid danger; accused of cowardice; his own opinion as to plot; question of his real danger; visited by Peace Congress; impresses visitors by his appearance; inauguration of; his address; states intention to enforce laws; repeats opposition to extension only of slavery; his previous denunciations remembered by South; shows statesmanship in emphasizing Union. _President_--_First Term_. Appears tranquil after entering office; not over-confident, but resolved on doing his duty; disheartened by lack of support at North; not trusted by leaders of Republican party; feels isolation; his cabinet; seeks representatives of all views; prefers individual strength to unity in cabinet; criticised by radical Republicans; has difficulties in satisfying Cameron; dissuades Seward from refusing to join cabinet; his statement of purpose to Virginia commissioners; annoys South by failing to notice it; irritates Northern extremists; asks opinion of Scott as to relieving Sumter; asks advice of cabinet; promises South to take no action without warning; again asks cabinet; forms plan to relieve Fort Pickens; spoils plan to relieve Sumter by sending Powhatan to Pensacola; announces intention to provision Sumter; admits blame for failure; question of his fault in delaying to relieve fort; issues proclamation calling for volunteers for three months; his purpose; expects Northerners to equal Southerners as fighters; calls Congress for special session; wishes to gain Kentucky; dreads effect of Baltimore riot on Border States; offers to send troops around Baltimore; soothes Maryland; cut off from North for a week; tries in vain to prevent Virginia from seceding; tries to secure Lee; successful in his policy for retaining Kentucky in Union; unable to reach North Carolina, Tennessee, or Arkansas; tries to aid Missouri loyalists; confident in efficiency of North; his capacities unknown to people; question of his "inspiration"; his masterfulness not realized; question as to his relations with advisers; obliged to restrain Chase and Seward; his relations with Chase; receives Seward's "Thoughts"; his reply to Seward; realizes his own responsibility and accepts it; receives absurd advice; proclaims blockade of Southern ports; advised to "close" ports; sees necessity of admitting war;