I don't want to see tens of thousands of men losing their lives because one portion of these States wants to ride rough-shod over the other.

The sooner the North looks this affair squarely in the face and sees that it has taken up a bigger job than it can carry through, and agrees to let those who wish to leave it go if they like, the better for all parties.
That's what I think about it." "I don't call that Union talk," the other said angrily.
"Union or not Union, I mean to talk it, and I want to know who is going to prevent me ?" The two men rose simultaneously from their chairs, and in a second the cracks of two revolvers sounded.

As if they had only been waiting for the signal, a score of other men leaped up and sprang at each other.
They had, as the altercation grew hotter, joined in with exclamations of anger or approval, and Vincent saw that although the Unionists were the majority, the party of sympathizers with the South was a strong one.
Having neither arms nor inclination to join in a broil of this kind he made his escape into the street the instant hostilities began, and hurried away from the sound of shouts, oaths, the sharp cracks of pistols, and the breaking of glass.

Ten minutes later he returned.

The hotel was shut up, but an angry mob were assembled round the door shouting, "Down with the rebels! down with the Secessionists!" and were keeping up a loud knocking at the door.