“The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere.” - Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861. This is why many Southerners felt that his words were a declaration of war. And this is why Lincoln went after Fort Sumter first. It was always about controlling the money.