A.) "On March 3, 1861, General Scott wrote to William Seward his views for Lincoln and his cabinet to adopt one of four plans of procedure to meet the "extraordinary exigencies of the times".
In summary..."
Note that this was written the day before Lincoln's inaguration on March 4th, 1861. Winfield Scott was one of Lincoln's closest political confidants since the old Whig party days and Scott own bid for the presidency in 1850. Why was he writting Seward instead of going directly to Lincoln himself? Was Scott no longer in favor with Lincoln and had he been replaced with Seward in that role?
B.) 1. Assume the new designation "The Union Party", adopt Crittenden's measures, or the Peace Convention's, and no new cases of secession will occur, and an early return of many, if not all the states which had already broken off from the Union.
This assumes that the southern states secession was a forgone conclusion and that a restructing of the Republican party would be necessary to convience them to come back. This would place the political blame on Lincoln directly and would in fact have been an admission of bad policy. Now what politician wants to admit that?
C.) 2. Collect the duties on foriegn goods outside the ports of which the Government has lost the command, or close such ports by act of Congress, and blockade them.
This would have meant the abandonment of Fort Sumter and Pickens at least. Again another admission of defeat for Lincoln's policy. Also he may not have been able to gain the support of Congress if he were to admit that States had a right to seceed. New York and Boston would be thinking 'Well, what if I want to seceed in the future also?'
Also any such Blockade besides being costly to maintain a fleet of Revenue Cutters in open waters outside of these ports would be impossible to enforce. Matamoro, Tx. would have simply become the main port of entry for imports and exports for the southern states.
D.) 3. Conquer the seceded States by invading armies. It will take two or three years, with 300,000 troops, of which, more than a third will be lost, frightful destruction of life and property in the seceding States; enormous waste of human life to the North and Northwest, with at least $250,000,000 spent to whom?, Fifteen devastated provinces, held by generations by heavy garrisons, at an expense quadruple the net taxes which would be possible to extort from them, followed by a protector or emperor.
What else needs to be said about this one except that Scott grossly UNDERestimated the cost in this one. Lincoln said that he would be President of All the States or none at all. What more needs to be said?
E.) 4. Say to the seceded States, "Wayward sisters, depart in peace".
Certainly the Souths preferred settlement of the situation, But Not in Lincoln's opinion.
As one young lady truely said in a flag dedication speech, and I am paraphrasing here now, our fore fathers fought the Revolution against the British "for Liberty and not Union". Authoritarian Government can not exist if the people have true Liberty. How much liberty must we surrender to satisfy such a government?