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  ...very careful to state just what he wanted to do.
1. "I have no purpose," said he, "directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists."
2. "I consider the Union is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability I shall take care ... that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the states."
3. "In doing this there need be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the national authority."
4. The power confided in me will be used to hold, occupy and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts.   "
[Illustration: Fort Sumter]
%425. Civil War begins.%--One of the places Lincoln thus pledged himself to "hold" was Fort Sumter, to which he decided to send men and supplies. As soon as notice of this intention was sent to Governor Pickens of South Carolina, the Confederate commander at Charleston, General Beauregard (bo-ruh-gar'), demanded the surrender of the fort. Major Anderson stoutly refused to comply with the demand, and at dawn on the morning of April 12, 1861, the...   Lincoln, Abraham

Excerpt from A School History of the United States · This quote is about president · Search on Google Books to find all references and sources for this quotation.

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