Simultaneously,  and  in  connection  with  all  this,  the  pur-
pose to  sever  the  Federal  Union  was  openly  avowed.  In  ac-
cordance with  this  purpose  an  ordinance  had  been  adopted  in
each  of  these  States,  declaring  the  States  respectively  to  be
separated  from  the  National  Union.  A  formula  for  instituting
a  combined  Government  of  those  States  had  been  promulgated,
and  this  illegal  organization,  in  the  character  of  the  ''Confed-
erate States,"  was  already  invoking  recognition,  aid  and  inter-
vention from  foreign  powers.
Finding  this  condition  of  things,  and  believing  it  to  be  an
imperative  duty  upon  the  incoming  Executive  to  prevent,  if
possible,  the  consummation  of  such  attempt  to  destroy  the
Federal  Union,  a  choice  of  means  to  that  end  became  indis-
pensable. This  choice  was  made  and  was  declared  in  the  In-
augural Address.
The  policy  chosen  looked  to  the  exhaustion  of  all  peaceful
measures  before  a  resort  to  any  stronger  ones.  It  sought  only
to  hold  the  public  places  and  property  not  already  wrested
from  the  Government,  and  to  collect  the  revenue,  relying  for
the  rest  on  tiuie,  discussion  and  the  ballot-box.  It  promised  a
continuance  of  the  mails,  at  Government  expense,  to  the  very
people  who  were  resisting  the  Government,  and  it  gave  re-
peated pledges  against  any  disturbances  to  any  of  the  people,
or  any  of  their  rights,  of  all  that  which  a  President  might  con-


256  LIFE    OP    ABRAHAM    LINCOLN.
etitutionally  and  justifiably  do  in  such  a  case ;  every  thing  was
forborne,  without  which  it  was  believed  possible  to  keep  the
Government  on  foot.
