CHAPTER X.
Presidential Election of 1860 .-- The Electoral and Popular Vote .-- Wide Divergence between the Two .-- Mr.Lincoln has a Large Majority of Electors .-- In a Minority of 1,000,000 on Popular Vote .-- Beginning of Secession .-- Rash Course of South Carolina .-- Reluctance on the Part of Many Southern States .-- Unfortunate Meeting of South-Carolina Legislature .-- Hasty Action of South-Carolina Convention .-- The Word "Ordinance."-- Meeting of Southern Senators in Washington to promote Secession .-- Unwillingness in the South to submit the Question to Popular Vote .-- Georgia not eager to Secede .-- Action of Other States.
-- Meeting of Congress in December, 1860 .-- Position of Mr.Buchanan.
-- His Attachment to the Union as a Pennsylvanian .-- Sinister Influences in his Cabinet .-- His Evil Message to Congress .-- Analysis of the Message .-- Its Position destructive to the Union .-- The President's Position Illogical and Untenable .-- Full of Contradictions .-- Extremists of the South approve the Message .-- Demoralizing Effect of the Message in the North and in the South .-- General Cass resigns from State Department .-- Judge Black succeeds him .-- Character of Judge Black .-- Secretaries Cobb, Floyd, and Thompson .-- Their Censurable Conduct in the Cabinet .-- Their Resignation .-- Re-organization of Cabinet .-- Dix, Holt, Stanton .-- Close of Mr.Buchanan's Administration.
-- Change in the President's Course .-- The New Influences .-- Analysis of the President's Course .-- There were two Mr.Buchanans .-- Personal and Public Character of Mr.Buchanan.
The winter following the election of Mr.Lincoln was filled with deplorable events.

In the whole history of the American people, there is no epoch which recalls so much that is worthy of regret and so little that gratifies pride.

The result of the election was unfortunate in the wide divergence between the vote which Mr.
Lincoln received in the electoral colleges and the vote which he received at the polls.

In the electoral colleges he had an aggregate of 180.

His opponents, united, had but 123.