[carton253]

Lincoln was not a psychic. What Lincoln knew was that it was a strong possibility, but also a possibility that the situation at Sumter could be maintained as status quo or even that the hotheads would back off.

No Lincoln was not a psychic. But he wasn't politically naive or stupid.

For it seems only Lincoln knew that sailing those ships in the harbor would not result in a Civil War.

[LexBaird]

Sez you, from the comfort of the certainty of the future looking backward.

Since you can establish such certainties as to KNOW what consequences flow inevitably from what actions, why aren’t you Secretary of State? I’m sure Bush could benefit from such foreknowlege on sujects like what to do about a nuclear Iran and N. Korea.