On 4 April 1861, Colonel John B. Baldwin of Virginia arrived in Washington, D.C. at Lincoln's behest to discuss the Peace Conference then in session in that State. According to Baldwin's sworn testimony, Lincoln's words to him during the ensuing meeting were as follows: "Mr. Baldwin, I am afraid you have come too late.... I wish you could have been here three or four days ago.... Why do you not all adjourn the Virginia convention?... [I]t is a standing menace to me, which embarrasses me very much."
Too late? Simultaneous with the Peace Conference in Virginia, Lincoln was ordering the provisioning of the ships that were to leave for Charleston. Too late. They didn't leave for another 4 days!
The question which immediately comes to mind is: Why would a man who had pledged a specific policy in his Inaugural Address view as a standing menace and a source of embarrassment a conference of States which had been convened to promote that very same policy?
Had he taken the opportunity to talk with the Peace Conference representative, there would have been no Federal action in Charleston. There would have been no excuse for war, and therefore no war. This is a prime example of the stubborn wrongheadedness of this man, and his unilateral decision making about the business of government. And by the designed exclusion of congress, it shows that his primary circle of influence was Northern governors and business interests.
The man hijacked this country and the sheeple in congress and courts threw out the laws to protect themselves and their mercantile, federalist accomplices.
Well, aren't we just overflowing with the Christmas spirit today?
I'll admit that I was unaware of any Virginia peace conference other than the one in Washington, D.C. that was called by Governor Letcher and which was boycotted by the seven confederate states. Who did the Davis government send to this second one you are talking about?