Once adopted, debates on it must end, and all agree and abide.
"It is not in my especial province; "But I neither seek to evade nor assume responsibility[202]." Lincoln's reply of the same day, April 1, was characteristically gentle, yet no less positive and definite to any save one obsessed with his own superior wisdom.

Lincoln merely noted that Seward's "domestic policy" was exactly his own, except that he did not intend to abandon Fort Sumter.

As to the warlike foreign policy Lincoln pointed out that this would be a sharp reversal of that already being prepared in circulars and instructions to Ministers abroad.

This was, indeed, the case, for the first instructions, soon despatched, were drawn on lines of recalling to foreign powers their established and long-continued friendly relations with the United States.

Finally, Lincoln stated as to the required "guiding hand," "I remark that if this must be done, I must do it....