Meanwhile in this same month of April, conditions in America, so long confused and uncertain, were being rapidly clarified.
The South, earlier than the North, had come to a determined policy, for while during January and February, at the Montgomery convention, there had been uncertainty as to actively applying the doctrinaire right of secession, by March the party of action had triumphed, and though there was still talk of conferences with the North, and commissioners actually appointed, no real expectation existed of a favourable result.

In the North, the determination of policy was more slowly developed.

Lincoln was not inaugurated until March 4, and no positive pronouncement was earlier possible.

Even after that date uncertainty still prevailed.
European correspondents were reporting men like Sumner as willing to let the South go in peace.

The Mayor of New York City was discussing the advisability of a separate secession by that financial centre from Nation and State alike--and of setting up as a "free town." Seward, just appointed Secretary of State, was repudiating in both official and private talk any intention to coerce the South by force of arms[134].