the lincoln administration found itself tasked with guiding the country through its darkest days. he inherited the problems from his predecessor, president james buchanan. in his own inaugural address four years earlier, buchan had called the issues of slavery “happily, a matter of but little practical importance.” buchanan took the position he did not have the power to do anything about the impending civil war. he said: “it is beyond the power of any president, no matter what may be his own political proclivities, to restore peace and harmony among the states. wisely limited and restrained as is his power under our constitution and laws, he alone can accomplish but little for good or for evil on such a momentous question.” as the civil war approached, under buchanan's presidency the country slid into a recession.