CHAPTER XIV. President Lincoln and the Confederate Commissioners.--Misleading Assurance given by Judge Campbell.--Mr. Seward's Answer to Messrs. Forsythe and Crawford.--An Interview with the President is desired by the Commissioners.--Rage in the South.--Condition of the Montgomery Government.--Roger A. Pryor's Speech.--President determines to send Provisions to Fort Sumter.--Advises Governor Pickens.--Conflict precipitated.--The Fort surrenders.--Effect of the Conflict on the North.--President's Proclamation and Call for Troops.--Responses of Loyal States.--Popular Uprising.--Democratic Party.--Patriotism of Senator Douglas.--His Relations with Mr. Lincoln.--His Death.-- Public Service and Character.--Effect of the President's Call on Southern States.--North Carolina.--Tennessee.--Virginia.--Senator Mason's Letter.--Responses of Southern Governors to the President's Call for Troops.--All decline to comply.--Some of them with Insolent Defiance.--Governors of the Free States.--John A. Andrew, E. D. Morgan, Andrew G. Curtin, Oliver P. Morton.--Energetic and Patriotic Action of all Northern Governors.--Exceptional Preparation in Pennsylvania for the Conflict.--Governors of Free States all Republicans except in California and Oregon.--Critical Situation on Pacific Coast.--Loyalty of its People.--President's Reasons for postponing Session of Congress.--Election in Kentucky.--Union Victory.--John J. Crittenden and Garrett Davis.--John Bell.-- Disappoints Expectation of Union Men.--Responsibility of Southern Whigs.--Their Power to arrest the Madness.--Audacity overcomes Numbers.--Whig Party of the South.--Its Brilliant Array of Leaders. --Its Destruction. CHAPTER XV. Thirty-Seventh Congress assembles.--Military Situation.--List of Senators: Fessenden, Sumner, Collamer, Wade, Chandler, Hale, Trumbull, Breckinridge, Baker of Oregon.--List of Members of the House of Representatives: Thaddeus Stevens, Crittenden, Lovejoy, Washburne, Bingham, Conkling, Shellabarger.--Mr. Grow elected Speaker.--Message of President Lincoln.--Its Leading Recommendations. --His Account of the Outbreak of the Rebellion.--Effect of the Message on the Northern People.--Battle of Bull Run.--Its Effect on Congress and the Country.--The Crittenden Resolution adopted.-- Its Significance.--Interesting Debate upon it in the Senate.--First Action by Congress Adverse to Slavery.--Confiscation of Certain Slaves.--Large Amount of Business dispatched by Congress.--Striking and Important Debate between Baker and Breckinridge.--Expulsion of Mr. Breckinridge from the Senate.--His Character.--Credit due to Union Men of Kentucky.--Effect produced in the South of Confederate Success at Bull Run.--Rigorous Policy adopted by the Confederate Government.--Law respecting "Alien Enemies."--Law sequestrating their Estates.--Rigidly enforced by Attorney-General Benjamin.--An Injudicious Policy.