[rockrr]

It has been reported by multiple sources that just hours before Lincoln sent Federal warships to Charleston and Pensacola, that when asked why not let the seceding states alone, his comment was “ but what about the tariff?”

He never said that.

[PeaRidge]

It is a fact that Lincoln was quoted as saying: “ but what about the tariff?”

You make the statement that: “He never said that.”

Several verbose posters here and in the past have expended great energy to discredit this quote without explaining why two or more documented sources, one being sworn testimony from a Virginia pro-Union legislator, and the other a clergyman reporting the quote to newspapers, both of whom likely did not know each other, would by coincidence make the exact same claim.

Well, since neither you, them, or me were there, why not focus on what we know Lincoln knew to be true.

The Treasury Department's Secretary, John A. Dix, notified Congress on February 11, 1861 that “little more” than $500,000 remained in the central depository in Washington.

Demands for $2 million “unanswered” requisitions had accumulated in the department, with $6 million more due to public creditors in early March. Dix predicted a $21.6 million shortfall by the end of the fiscal year.

Staff in most executive departments could not draw their salaries that January. Members of Congress had gone unpaid since the start of the session the previous December. Worse yet, according to Dix, “The War and Navy departments have calls for large requisitions [that] have been delayed on account of the exhausted condition of the Treasury.”d

In 1860, the tariff supplied the Treasury with 94.5% of its total revenue base.

Would Lincoln be referring to this?

[rustbucket]

He never said that.

I have a copy of the original April 23, 1861 Baltimore Sun article, "Interview With The President" wherein Lincoln is quoted as having said: "And what is to become of the revenue? I shall have no government -- no resources."

Here are some excerpts from the article (I put Lincoln's reported words from these excerpts in bold font). The Reverend Dr. Fuller opened the conversation:

"seeking to impress upon Mr. Lincoln the vast responsibility of the position he occupied, and that upon him depended the issues of peace or war -- on one hand a terrible, fratricidal conflict, and on the other peace."

"But," said Mr. Lincoln, "what am I to do?"

"Why, sir, let the country know that you are disposed to recognize the independence of the Southern States. I say nothing of secession, recognize the fact that they have formed a government of their own, that they will never be united again with the North, and peace will instantly take the place of anxiety and suspense, and war may be averted."

"And what is to become of the revenue? I shall have no government -- no resources."

"Dr. Fuller expressed the opinion that the Northern States would constitute an imposing government, and furnish revenue, but our informant could not follow the exact turn of remark."

The conversation turning upon the passage of troops through Maryland," ... "Mr. Lincoln insisted that he wanted troops only for the defense of the capitol, not for the invasion of the Southern States." ... "Why, sir, those Carolinians are now crossing Virginia to come here and hang me, and what can I do?"

"The delegation, on leaving 'the presence,' conferred together, and agreed on the hopelessness of their errand and the sad prospect of any good thing from such a source, and the exclamation was actually made, 'God have mercey on us, when the government is placed in the hands of a man like this!' "

Even the New York Day Book picked up on Lincoln's remarks when they wrote about low tariff revenue. [Source: The New Orleans Daily Crescent newspaper of May 15, 1861 quoting an earlier New York Day Book article]:

The imports of dry goods this week are very small, probably the least reported for many years.

Well may Mr. Lincoln ask, "What will become of my revenue?"