Most of the men whose integrity and ability had preserved the lingering existence of the Association, openly avowed their approval of its principles, and such of them whose hearts were not mere empty sounds, would join its members at a crisis.
Thus stood the facts.

The considerations in favour of the junction were these: Certain men of influence, who, contrary to their own convictions, adhered to the Association, in the commencement through fear, and still adhered to it through an unintelligible hankering after consistency, pressed for an opportunity where they might abandon their former associates without the appearance of abandoning their old principles.
There were others who followed a middle course, and were always with the greater crowd and the more intense enthusiasm, who demanded the same means of escape.
There was a consideration of some weight which no doubt influenced the decision of the Confederates.

It was this: the Roman Catholic clergymen had given unmitigated opposition to the Confederation.

Their hostility had been the most formidable obstacle in its way; and it was assumed that the presence of some leading churchmen among the Confederates, would remove the distrust which the former opposition of the priesthood had mainly tended to create.
These were the chief considerations at the affirmative side.

On a less pressing occasion, and at a former period, they might have been forcible, nay, even conclusive.