Final answer:
Lincoln unfolds his ideas in the beginning of his speech by acknowledging secessionist demands and emphasizing the importance of his Cabinet appointments and tone of his speech.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the beginning of his speech, Lincoln unfolds his ideas by first acknowledging the secessionist tide and the demands of the slave states.
He then emphasizes the importance of finding appropriate advisers and drafting his inaugural address.
Lincoln believed that his Cabinet appointments and the tone of his first public speech would convey his policy toward the South, highlighting the importance of preserving the Union while standing firm on the issue of slavery.