His strong connections and his own good manners had made him a favorite in Charleston.

He went everywhere, perhaps most often to the office of the Mercury, controlled by the powerful Rhett family, among the most fiery of the Southern leaders.

Exchanges still came there from the northern cities, but he read little in them about preparations for war.

Many attacked Buchanan, the present President, for weakness, and few expected anything better from the uncouth western figure, Lincoln, who would soon succeed him.
Meanwhile the Confederate convention at Montgomery was acting.

In those days apathy and delay seemed to be characteristic of the North, courage and energy of the South.