irritates Northern extremists, 242;
asks opinion of Scott as to relieving Sumter, 244;
asks advice of cabinet, 245, 246;
promises South to take no action without warning, 245;
again asks cabinet, 246;
forms plan to relieve Fort Pickens, 247;
spoils plan to relieve Sumter by sending Powhatan to Pensacola, 248;
announces intention to provision Sumter, 248;
admits blame for failure, 249;
question of his fault in delaying to relieve fort, 250;