Seward: We haven't ten thousand ready.
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.