l. 2, p. 493.]

[Footnote 693: The Richmond _Whig_, January 17, 1861.]

Seward was not unmindful of this influence. "My own party trusts me,"
he wrote, "but not without reservation. All the other parties, North
and South, cast themselves upon me."[694] Judged by his letters at
this period, it is suggested that he had an overweening sense of his
own importance; he thought that he held in his hands the destinies of
his country.[695] However this may be, it is certain that he wanted to
embarrass Lincoln by no obstacles of his making. "I must gain time,"
he said, "for the new Administration to organise and for the frenzy of
passion to subside. I am doing this, without making any compromise
whatever, by forbearance, conciliation, magnanimity. What I say and do
is said and done, not in view of personal objects, and I am leaving to
posterity to decide upon my action and conduct."[696]

[Footnote 694: F.W. Seward, _Life of W.H. Seward_, Vol. 2, p. 494.]

[Footnote 695: "I will try to save freedom and my country," Seward
wrote his wife.--F.W. Seward, _Life of W.H. Seward_, Vol. 2, p. 487.
"I have assumed a sort of dictatorship for defence, and am labouring
night and day with the cities and States."--_Ibid._, 491. "I am the
only hopeful, calm, conciliatory person."--_Ibid._, 497. "It seems to
me that if I am absent only three days, this Administration, the
Congress, and the district would fall into consternation and
despair."--_Ibid._, 497. "The present Administration and the incoming
one unite in devolving upon me the responsibility of averting civil
war."--_Ibid._, 497.]

[Footnote 696: F.W. Seward, _Life of W.H. Seward_, Vol. 2, p. 497.]

In this spirit Seward made his speech of January 12. He discussed the
fallacies of secession, showing that it had no grounds, or even
excuse, and declaring that disunion must lead to civil war. Then he
avowed his adherence to the Union in its integrity and in every event,
"whether of peace or of war, with every consequence of honour or
dishonour, of life or death." Referring to the disorder, he said: "I
know not to what extent it may go. Still my faith in the Constitution
and in the Union abides. Whatever dangers there shall be, there will
be the determination to meet them. Whatever sacrifices, private or
public, shall be needful for the Union, they will be made. I feel sure
that the hour has not come for this great nation to fall."

In blazing the new line of thought which characteris