Lincoln refused to meet with South Carolina’s mediators to discuss the situation at Sumter; Lincoln and his handlers knew what would happen when discussions fail: War.
Lincoln wasn't president when South Carolina was on its own. And by the time Lincoln was, the South wasn't talking about paying for anything. They were demanding recognition and making vague offers to talk about 'subjects of interest to both countries'. If paying for anything was of interest to the confederacy they would have made the offer before seizing anything.