This was regarded by Mr.Lincoln as not in all respects a fortunate circumstance.

It was his belief, as it was the belief of many others, that if loyal Democrats had been in the executive chairs of some of the largest States, the effect would have been more impressive.

It would have suggested a more absolute unity of the Northern people in support of the government.

It would in some degree have relieved the struggle for national life from the opprobrium contained in the reproach which subsequently became too common, that after all it was "a Republican war," waged merely for the abolition of slavery.
The two States on the Pacific coast had Democratic governors, and, by reason of the strong influence which the Southern Democrats had exercised in both under the influence of William M.Gwin and Joseph Lane, there was deep solicitude as to the course of event in that important outpost of the Union.

The loyal adherence of those States to the National Government was a profound disappointment to the Confederacy.