The popular apprehension was that Mr.Bell would concede all they asked, and insure the preservation of the Union by yielding to the demands of the only body of men who threatened to destroy it.
ELECTION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
As the canvass grew animated, and the questions at issue were elaborately discussed before the people, the conviction became general that the supporters of Breckinridge contemplated the destruction of the government.

This was not simply the belief of the Republicans.

It was quite as general among the supporters of Douglas and the supporters of Bell.

In an earlier stage of the anti-slavery contest, this fact would have created great alarm in the Northern States, but now the people would not yield to such a fear.

They were not only inspired by the principles they upheld, but there was a general desire to test the question thus presented.
If a President, constitutionally elected, could not be inaugurated, it was better then and there to ascertain the fact than to postpone the issue by an evasion or a surrender.