Why is Secretary of State Seward upset with president Lincoln about the secret meeting with the south?

Secretary of State William H. Seward was upset with President Abraham Lincoln regarding the secret meeting with Southern leaders because he felt it undermined the administration's position on the Civil War. Seward believed that such negotiations could be seen as conciliatory to the Confederacy, potentially weakening the Union's resolve. He was concerned that Lincoln's willingness to engage in discussions might lead to perceptions of leniency or compromise, which could negatively impact the Union's efforts in the conflict.