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So, x, what was Lincoln concerned with in March of 1861? Was he having cabinet meetings discussing the thirteenth amendment and how to implement it. Was he talking about approaching the border states and discussing gradual emancipation with government compensation, as did the British?

By the way, you failed to answer this question for me:

"Why was he willing to endorse legalized slavery at the time of the inauguration, but was unwilling to endure the issue until gradual emancipation could be arranged?"

Did he summon Gustavus Fox to obtain his council on compensation of Southern planters?

Did he confer with former attorney general Black on his opinion that the President did not have the authority to obstruct secession?

Did he ask Seward to arrange safe passage back to Africa for those slaves that would request it?

Did he open a line of communication to President Davis? Did he offer to meet with Davis' emissaries?

Did he do anything consistent with seeking a peaceful resolution?

NO. And Colonel Baldwin testified to the same.

It should also be noted that Lincoln's tariff sentiments are corroborated in the records of his associates. Around December 1, 1860 Lincoln was visited in Springfield by Hawkins Taylor, a friend and Republican organizer from Iowa who had helped him win the nomination in Chicago. They spoke at length about the impending crisis and the policies he should pursue after taking office. Taylor recorded the events of the meeting in a December 21st letter to a friend:

"I was at Springfield a few days since and had the pleasure of seeing the President Elect. And had a good long old fashioned talk with him and if our friends do not assist the Locos to demoralize the Republican party before he gets into office there will be no danger after. He will be as firm as was Jackson was and pursue exactly the same same course towards Nullifiers that Jackson did 28 years ago. If he does not take care of the Country and his party it will be the fault of his nominal friends. While he will be mild he will never consent to the lowering of the Republican Standard in the least We had a free talk about the Chicago Convention and Canvass and I found that he was thoroughly posted on what had been done & who done it. I found that Indianna made great pretentions for on account of the Course of her delegates at Chicago. I told him that I thought I was about as well posted as any one who was there and while great Credit was due to Indianna that there was tenfold more due to the Old Henry Clay Whig Tariff element of Penn. That that element was an influential one and was the first interest of any magnitude outside of Ill that fully took ground for him and that intereest was really what Controlled the entire Delegation of Penn and then and not till then did Ia. leave Bates & McClainand act heartily & fully for him ... I told him of our first talk and your reporting to me the next morning your action of the night before and the Conclusion arrived at & that I thought no man had done him more Service than you had. He fully agreed with me that to the Tariff Whig element of Penn was he most indebted (and he will not betray it) Towards Penn he feels most greatful and particularly &c towards Cameron who did not send a Packed delegation to Chicago as some others did."

That Lincoln had the tariff on his mind along side his warmaking is thus without doubt.