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Alabama； simply a matter of self…preservation。 As early as
January； in the exciting days when Floyd's resignation was being
interpreted as a call to arms； the Virginia Legislature had
resolved that it would not consent to the coercion of a seceding
State。 In May the Speaker of the North Carolina Legislature
assured a commissioner from Georgia that North Carolina would
never consent to the movement of troops 〃from or across〃 the
State to attack a seceding State。 But neither Virginia nor North
Carolina in this second stage of the movement wanted to secede。
They wanted to preserve the Union； but along with the Union they
wanted the principle of local autonomy。 It was a period of tense
anxiety in those States of the upper South。 The frame of mind of
the men who loved the Union but who loved equally their own
States and were firm for local autonomy is summed up in a letter
in which Mrs。 Robert E。 Lee describes the anguish of her husband
as he confronted the possibility of a divided country。
The real tragedy of the time lay in the failure of the advocates
of these two great principleseach so necessary to a far…flung
democratic country in a world of great powers！the failure to
coordinate them so as to insure freedom at home and strength
abroad。 The principle for which Lincoln stood has saved Americans
in the Great War from playing such a trembling part as that of
Holland。 The principle which seemed to Lee even more essential；
which did not perish at Appomattox but was transformed and not
destroyed； is what has kept us from becoming a western Prussia。
And yet if only it had been possible to coordinate the two
without the price of war！ It was not possible because of the
stored up bitterness of a quarter century of recrimination。 But
Virginia made a last desperate attempt to preserve the Union by
calling the Peace Convention。 It assembled at Washington the day
the Confederate Congress met at Montgomery。 Though twenty…one
States sent delegates； it was no more able to effect a working
scheme of compromise than was the House committee of thirty…three
or the Senate committee of thirteen； both of which had striven；
had failed； and had gone their ways to a place in the great
company of historic futilities。
And so the Peace Convention came and went； and there was no
consolation for the troubled men of the upper South who did not
want to secede but were resolved not to abandon local autonomy。
Virginia was the key to the situation。 If Virginia could be
forced into secession； the rest of the upper South would
inevitably follow。 Therefore a Virginia hothead； Roger A。 Pryor；
being in Charleston in those wavering days； poured out his heart
in fiery words； urging a Charleston crowd to precipitate war； in
the certainty that Virginia would then have to come to their aid。
When at last Sumter was fired upon and Lincoln called for
volunteers； the second stage of the secession movement ended in a
thunderclap。 The third period was occupied by the second group of
secessions： Virginia on the 17th of April； North Carolina and
Arkansas during May； Tennessee early in June。
Sumter was the turning…point。 The boom of the first cannon
trained on the island fortress deserves all the rhetoric it has
inspired。 Who was immediately responsible for that firing which
was destiny？ Ultimate responsibility is not upon any person。 War
had to be。 If Sumter had not been the starting…point； some other
would have been found。 Nevertheless the question of immediate
responsibility； of whose word it was that served as the signal to
begin； has produced an historic controversy。
When it was known at Charleston that Lincoln would attempt to
provision the fort； the South Carolina authorities referred the
matter to the Confederate authorities。 The Cabinet； in a fateful
session at Montgomery； hesitateddrawn between the wish to keep
their hold upon the moderates of the North； who were trying to
stave off war； and the desire to precipitate Virginia into the
lists。 Toombs； Secretary of State in the new Government； wavered；
then seemed to find his resolution and came out strong against a
demand for surrender。 〃It is suicide； murder； and will lose us
every friend at the North。。。。 It is unnecessary； it puts us
in the wrong； it is fatal；〃 said he。 But the Cabinet and the
President decided to take the risk。 To General Pierre Beauregard；
recently placed in command of the militia assembled at
Charleston； word was sent to demand the surrender of Fort Sumter。
On Thursday； the 7th of April； besides his instructions from
Montgomery； Beauregard was in receipt of a telegram from the
Confederate commissioners at Washington； repeating newspaper
statements that the Federal relief expedition intended to land a
force 〃which will overcome all opposition。〃 There seems no doubt
that Beauregard did not believe that the expedition was intended
merely to provision Sumter。 Probably every one in Charleston
thought that the Federal authorities were trying to deceive them；
that Lincoln's promise not to do more than provision Sumter was a
mere blind。 Fearfulness that delay might render Sumter
impregnable lay back of Beauregard's formal demand； on the 11th
of April； for the surrender of the fort。 Anderson refused but
〃made some verbal observations〃 to the aides who brought him the
demand。 In effect he said that lack of supplies would compel him
to surrender by the fifteenth。 When this information was taken
back to the city； eager crowds were in the streets of Charleston
discussing the report that a bombardment would soon begin。 But
the afternoon passed； night fell； and nothing was done。 On the
beautiful terrace along the sea known as East Battery； people
congregated； watching the silent fortress whose brick walls rose
sheer from the midst of the harbor。 The early hours of the night
went by and as midnight approached and still there was no flash
from either the fortress or the shore batteries which threatened
it； the crowds broke up。
Meanwhile there was anxious consultation at the hotel where
Beauregard had fixed his headquarters。 Pilots came in from the
sea to report to the General that a Federal vessel had appeared
off the mouth of the harbor。 This news may well explain the hasty
dispatch of a second expedition to Sumter in the middle of the
night。 At half after one； Friday morning； four young men； aides
of Beauregard； entered the fort。 Anderson repeated his refusal to
surrender at once but admitted that he would have to surrender
within three days。 Thereupon the aides held a council of war。
They decided that the reply was unsatisfactory and wrote out a
brief note which they handed to Anderson informing him that the
Confederates would open 〃fire upon Fort Sumter in one hour from
this time。〃 The note was dated 3：20 A。M。 The aides then proceeded
to Fort Johnston on the south side of the harbor and gave the
order to fire。
The council of the aides at Sumter is the dramatic detail that
has caught the imagination of historians and has led them； at
least in some cases； to yield to a literary temptation。 It is so
dramaticthat scene of the four young men holding in their
hands； during a moment of absolute des