CHAPTER XIV.
President Lincoln and the Confederate Commissioners .-- Misleading Assurance given by Judge Campbell .-- Mr.Seward's Answer to Messrs.
Forsythe and Crawford .-- An Interview with the President is desired by the Commissioners .-- Rage in the South .-- Condition of the Montgomery Government .-- Roger A.Pryor's Speech .-- President determines to send Provisions to Fort Sumter .-- Advises Governor Pickens .-- Conflict precipitated .-- The Fort surrenders .-- Effect of the Conflict on the North .-- President's Proclamation and Call for Troops .-- Responses of Loyal States .-- Popular Uprising .-- Democratic Party .-- Patriotism of Senator Douglas .-- His Relations with Mr.Lincoln .-- His Death .-- Public Service and Character .-- Effect of the President's Call on Southern States .-- North Carolina .-- Tennessee .-- Virginia .-- Senator Mason's Letter .-- Responses of Southern Governors to the President's Call for Troops .-- All decline to comply .-- Some of them with Insolent Defiance .-- Governors of the Free States .-- John A.Andrew, E.D.
Morgan, Andrew G.Curtin, Oliver P.Morton .-- Energetic and Patriotic Action of all Northern Governors .-- Exceptional Preparation in Pennsylvania for the Conflict .-- Governors of Free States all Republicans except in California and Oregon .-- Critical Situation on Pacific Coast .-- Loyalty of its People .-- President's Reasons for postponing Session of Congress .-- Election in Kentucky .-- Union Victory .-- John J.Crittenden and Garrett Davis .-- John Bell .-- Disappoints Expectation of Union Men .-- Responsibility of Southern Whigs .-- Their Power to arrest the Madness .-- Audacity overcomes Numbers .-- Whig Party of the South .-- Its Brilliant Array of Leaders.
-- Its Destruction.
The negotiation which the seceding State of South Carolina had unsuccessfully attempted with President Buchanan, for the surrender of Fort Sumter, was now formally renewed by the Confederate Government with the administration of Mr.Lincoln.

The week following the inauguration, John Forsythe of Alabama and Martin J.Crawford of Georgia appeared in Washington in the character of Commissioners from the Confederate States, "with a view," as they defined it, "to a speedy adjustment of all questions growing out of the political separation, upon such terms of amity and good will as the respective interests, geographical contiguity, and future welfare of the two nations, may render necessary." They addressed their communication to the Secretary of State as a matter pertaining to the Foreign Department of the government, and waited with confidence for an answer that would practically recognize the nationality which they assumed to represent.

Judge Campbell of the Supreme Court, a citizen of Alabama, had held some conferences with Mr.Seward, the result of which was his personal assurance to the Commissioners that Fort Sumter would be evacuated before the 25th of March; and he urged them not to insist upon too prompt an answer to their demand.

At his instance, the reply of Mr.Seward was withheld from official delivery, and, though dated the 15th of March, was really not read by the Commissioners until the 7th or 8th of April.
THE CONFEDERATE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.Seward's answer threw the Commissioners and the entire South into a rage.

He declined to comply with the request of Messrs.
Forsythe and Crawford.