Lincoln: The head of the government is here.
White: But—
Lincoln: Come, gentlemen. What is it?
Jennings: It's this matter of Fort Sumter, Mr. President. If you withdraw your garrison from Fort Sumter it won't be looked upon as weakness in you. It will merely be looked upon as a concession to a natural privilege. We believe that the South at heart does not want secession. It wants to establish the right to decide for itself.
Lincoln: The South wants the stamp of national approval upon slavery. It can't have it.
White: Surely that's not the point. There's no law in the South against slavery.
Lincoln: Laws come from opinion, Mr. White. The South knows it.
Jennings: Mr. President, if I may say so, you don't quite understand.
Lincoln: Does Mr. Seward understand?
White: We believe so.