Seward: Give these gentlemen a private wire. Place yourself at their disposal.
Clerk: Yes, sir.
WHITE and JENNINGS go out with the CLERK. For a moment LINCOLN and SEWARD are silent, LINCOLN pacing the room, SEWARD standing at the table.
Lincoln: Seward, this won't do.
Seward: You don't suspect—
Lincoln: I do not. But let us be plain. No man can say how wisely, but Providence has brought me to the leadership of this country, with a task before me greater than that which rested on Washington himself. When I made my Cabinet, you were the first man I chose. I do not regret it. I think I never shall. But remember, faith earns faith. What is it? Why didn't those men come to see me?
Seward: They thought my word might bear more weight with you than theirs.
Lincoln: Your word for what?
Seward: Discretion about Fort Sumter.
Lincoln: Discretion?